Waikato basks in sound and vision

By LINDA HERRICK

Contrary to some fears, there must be some sort of magic in the waters of the mighty Waikato. While Auckland can't seem to organise an arts festival to save itself, in recent years Hamilton has become the home for some enviably lively - and regular - arts events.

The biennial Fuel Festival for New Zealand Theatre has gone from strength to strength since its launch in 1998, with this year's June season boasting 32 productions and an audience of nearly 14,000. Waikato Institute of Technology's annual Sparc series - now in its third year - is starting to attract serious attention, not only on campus but from members of the public and culture-starved out-of-towners.

Sparc 2002, which opens today and runs until Friday afternoon, boasts a lineup of 30 multi-media artists. Organised by the institute's media arts degree faculty, the series' aim is "all about looking at other people's multi-media practices, going to exhibitions, listening to people", says assistant co-ordinator Kim Marsh.

Sparc's international component includes hot San Francisco graphic designer Amy Franceschini, who will discuss SF-based Futurefarmers, the worldwide eco-activist collective which uses the web as a tool.

Oddball New York troubadour Daniel Hartnett, who has played with Jeff Buckley, Jewel and Beth Orton, has left the Big Apple for the first time ever (it's true), to come to New Zealand for a holiday which includes busking in Wellington and a stint at Sparc. Hartnett's big dream, apparently, is to record for his dream label, Flying Nun. His latest work is on the soundtrack of indie docudrama Dog Run, made by the team who produced the harrowing Kids a few years ago.

Also worth watching out for at Sparc is Australian film storyboard artist David Russell, who has worked on movies such as The Return of the Jedi, Batman and Moulin Rouge; Weta Digital models supervisor Matt Aitken, who will break down the technical details of Weta's work on The Fellowship of the Ring; and veteran actor-director Ian Mune with his no-doubt blunt perspective on film-making in this land.

Visual artists include Judy Darragh, Jim Vivieaere, Walters Prize winner Yvonne Todd, photographer Anne Noble and Giovanni Intra, founder of the controversial China Art Objects Galleries in Los Angeles.

There is much more more in the programme but for pure entertainment value, you can't go past the irrepressible Ronnie van Hout, whose Getting a Head exhibition continues his often-hilarious toying with themes of paranoia, theatricality and reinventions of identity.

* Sparc: Waikato Institute of Technology, until Friday; admission to all events is free; groups of five or more should phone (07) 834-8800 x 7947 first to check space is available.

Sparc 2002