Art event a great experience for students at Waikirikiri School

WHAKAIRO/CARVING: Te Kura Rua Reo o Waikirikiri student Siya Mafi tries his hand at the Māori art of whakairo.

Ākonga (students) of Te Kura Rua Reo o Waikirikiri this week got the chance to experience different art forms from the very people who create them.

“Our kaupapa this term has been creativity and art,” kōkā Ash Maka said. “The tamariki have been learning about the different styles of Māori art.

“I reached out to local artists to see if they were available to come in and share their mahi and matauranga (knowledge) with our tamariki.”

The artists were Tam Tuhou, who specialises in whakairo (carving); painter Dayna Chaffey; Talei Teariki, who does raranga (weaving); ta moko artists Maia Gibbs and Henare Brooking from Toi Ake - Māori Art Gallery; Waikirikiri School student Melesiu Latu, who does macrame; and kuia knitters from Te Hāhi partnership.

Each artist brought examples of their work to display in the school hall.

They then collaborated with a selected number of tamariki from Waikirikiri's kapa haka rōpū to create art pieces.

As they were working, other students got to observe and ask questions.

Chaffey said they wanted to show the students you don't have to be perfect as an artist.

“Everyone likes something different. Not everyone will like it but someone out there will. I wanted to teach them that you can do whatever you want.”

Tuhou, who also teaches at the kura and got into carving at Gisborne Boys' High 13 years ago, showed the tamariki the process of whakairo and how it felt doing it.

Te Hāhi kuia and knitter Nona Aston said they were keen to show the children that knitting was a handy and versatile skill.

“I wanted to teach the kids that you can make all sorts (of things) from knitting, it's a skill to have,” she said.

Brooking, a former Waikirikiri student, said he and Gibbs were delighted to support the kaupapa.

“It's always good to come back and give back to the school. They asked us what we did for a job and we explained to them . . . we live life and enjoy what we are passionate about . . . sharing with the kids that you can be whoever you want to be.”