Six Picks for Artweek Auckland 2018

The eighth Artweek Auckland returns between 6-14 October to celebrate the diverse artistic community who call our city home. Featuring exhibitions, happenings and workshops across ten precincts (Central City, Parnell, Ponsonby, K' Road, Arch Hill, Newmarket, Devonport, South, West, East). Whether they are steeped in history, brimming with freewheeling bohemia, bristling with up-and-coming energy or a combination of all three, each precinct has a unique place in Auckland's artistic landscape. The ten-day celebration aims to explore as many of their facets as possible with over 50 free guided tours, public and private artwork, drawing clubs, feminist exhibitions and food fit for art aficionados and newcomers alike. We are quite literally spoilt for choice, so we've grabbed a copy of the Artweek Auckland program and found our picks for 2018.

LATE NIGHT ART

A staple on veteran Artweek attendees calendars, the streets of Auckland CBD will come alive thanks to Late Night Art. From galleries open late, live art events and cycling tours, there are plenty of ways to explore the creative corners of the Auckland CBD. Highlights include Art Ache at the Ellen Melville Centre, a series of artist-run events that showcase six artists who work in a variety of mediums. Keen to create a connection between New Zealand artists and art lovers, they aim to bring art into the everyday. Offering limited edition prints from local artists who range from internationally acclaimed to emerging, Art Ache is also a wonderful opportunity to begin your art collection for under $100. Their Late Night Art event is inspired by the romance of the artist's studio and will feature works from Karl Maughan Hye Rim Lee, Layla Walter, Zammia Weatherall and Evie Kemp. Multi-award winning body paint artist Yolanda Bartram has body painted the likes of Grace Jones, and you'll be able to catch her transforming a human canvas in Chancery Square. Alternatively, you can become a work of art thanks to ten-minute sketch collective the Quick Draw Sketch Gang. Work up an appetite exploring the Auckland Art Gallery before heading to StreetArtDego where free street art and performances have been perfectly paired with street food.

Tuesday, 9 October (5-9pm), Auckland CBD.

GLOW

The best and brightest of Unitec's second year architecture students are back for another year of GLOW. Each of them have designed and created light pavilions for a stunning display across the picturesque Winsdor Reserve in Devonport. As well as embracing the zero waste and zero budget ethos, this is a free event that the whole family will enjoy.

October 12-13 (5pm-LATE), Devonport.

COVEN COLLECTIVE: THE SUFFRAGE OF COVEN

Māngere Arts Centre Ngā Tohu o Uenuku are playing host to arts collective Coven. Their roots in Aotearoa's underground vogue scene have seen them perform on the stage of TED talks and Fafswag's award-winning interactive documentary. Exploring the gender binary is at the heart of Coven's work. This exhibition explores it in relation to Aotearoa's suffrage movement and broader feminist history through a myriad of mediums including performance, sculpture and photography.

From October 13 to November 17, Māngere Arts Centre Ngā Tohu o Uenuku.

FROM THE SHORE

Out west in Te Uru Waitakere Contemporary Gallery, is the exhibition From the Shore. Featuring Tanu Gago, Robert George, Nova Paul, Linda T and recent New Zealand representatives for the Venice Biennale, From the Shore features some of New Zealand's finest contemporary artists. The artwork in From the Shore reflects the strategies and philosophies first explored by Barry Barclay and Merata Mita, two forerunners in indigenous filmmaking. Mita and Barclay were aware that film could be used to make a political statement. Each of the artists in From the Shore look to subvert ideas of indigenous representation in contemporary New Zealand art, calling for a more robust representation of indigenous ideas, places and people.  

Saturday, 13 October, Lopdell Theatre, Titirangi.

PONSONBY ON A PLATE

Ponsonby is home to some of Auckland's cutest pooches, best eateries and art galleries. Dogs, food and art are wonderful enough on their own, but the good folk at Ponsonby on a Plate have taken it one step further by combining all three to celebrate Artweek. Artist Helen Perrett has hand painted 100 plates with portraits of dogs that will be gifted when you eat at three different cafes. Running for the duration of Artweek, there will be limited plates available so get in quick. 

6-14 October, Ponsonby.

ELECTRIC NIGHT

K' Road galleries are keeping their doors open late for one night only on 11 October. Grab a free guided tour with Emil McAvoy, Francis McWhannell and Alice Tyler and check out Audio Foundation, Strange Haven, Tim Meville, Whitespace and more. With an after party at the Anthology Lounge, Electric Night is a wonderful opportunity to explore the best in emerging and mid-career artists. 

Thursday, 11 October, Karangahape Road.

Artweek Auckland takes place from 6-14 October. For a full list of events, happenings and workshops, check out artweekauckland.co.nz.

Image: Sacha Stejko.