The stars are out at Gallery on Guyton this week

Erena Metekingi-Anson (left), Mina Bourke, Ta Piri, Tanea Ngapeka and Rere Sutherland celebrate Puanga with their Transformation exhibition at Gallery on Guyton. Photo / Stuart Munro

Whanganui's Manawa ora Maaori Artists Collective and Gallery on Guyton have come together to celebrate Puanga with a group exhibition.

Naani Waitai, Tanea Ngapeka, Rere Sutherland, Mina Bourke, Ta Piri and Rena Star have created an exhibition that celebrates the Maori New Year and their tipuna (ancestors) in their own unique styles.

Ta Piri's round, acrylic canvas Shapeshifter is a depiction of living in different dimensions.

"It is my interpretation of how we are connected to our tipuna and how they guide us," she says.

Rere Sutherland's large canvas depicts the Matariki or Pleiades formation with the Puanga star shining on the right.

"I was thinking about our kaitiaki - our guardians - and how we must become kaitiaki for younger generations.

"I have used glow paint so the star formation can be seen in the dark."

Tanea Ngapeka has produced more works in her blue series incorporating jigsaw pieces and has turned her hand to crochet to produce Rere, a giant raffia bird taking flight in the gallery front window.

"It's symbolic of the new beginnings we celebrate at this time of year."

Next to Ngapeka's bird is Mina Bourke's star made with re purposed materials and representing the Puanga star.

It is one of five mixed media pieces Bourke has produced for the exhibition using paints, flax, laser cut wood and a sprinkling of diamante to depict both the night sky and the harvesting that is part of winter solstice celebrations.

"I love the positive and negative effects I get with using the laser cut pieces and Marilyn and Marty Vreede have kindly let me use their equipment for my work."

Naani Waitai's Tohu Taketake series comprises five black and white digital prints depicting marks placed by Maori chieftains on Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Rena Star's two Kaitiakitanga canvasses in bright acrylics and gold leaf depict her tipuna as kaitiaki watching over the present with bird symbolism to the fore.

Transformation is open for viewing at 62 Guyton St from 11am until 4pm, Monday to Saturday until July 7.