Improving lives through Circus Arts; Circability deivered two East Auckland workshops at Te Tuhi’s auditorium. Their unique workshops were focused on developing personal confidence and physical literacy, especially for people with disabilities.

Participants were able to play and learn circus skills like juggling, hula hoop, plate spinning and ribbon dance.

Family Circus Sundays was an Arts Out East project supported by Te Tuhi and the Howick Local Board.

Within a gathering space at Howick Historical Village, local contemporary artist Areez Katki offered a gentle spatial intervention inside Ararimu Valley School, in two modes that the artist has continually engaged with: textile and text.

Katki’s autobiographical essays gathered fragments of memory associated with his time growing up in, and then subsequently revisiting Howick.

Afloat overhead were 31 restored 19th-20th C. handkerchiefs that represent his current age; hand-embroidered with gestures and evocative forms, based on textual surveys of Ararimu Valley School.

Working beyond the specificity of cultural divisions, Katki suspends time in a space where universal notions of growth and identity may be contemplated.

ABOUT THE ARTIST:

Born in Mumbai, India, Areez Katki is a multidisciplinary artist & writer who was raised in Howick and is currently based in Tāmaki Makaurau. Drawing from historical and social research, he addresses his value for craft sensibilities through a research driven contemporary practice.

Over the duration of his career Katki has focused on the significance of textile materiality in the domestic realm and an ongoing engagement with their narratives.

It’s Never Too Late To Learn was an Arts Out East project supported by Te Tuhi and the Howick Local Board with special thanks to the Howick Historical Village.

W: areezkatki.co | IG: @areezkatki

Shish-Ka-Buoy is an Angus Muir Design public art installation. The works have been exhibited in Singapore and London, and now East Auckland! The five illuminated towers lit up Barry Curtis Park by the children’s playground, capturing the attention of children, families and passersby.

This is an Arts Out East project, supported by Te Tuhi and the Howick Local Board.

Writers’ playlists

Welcome to Writers’ Playlists, featuring five East Auckland poets and writers.

Areez Katki, Kitty Chang, Marilyn Bakker, Natasha Bidesi and Ruth Hammond challenged themselves – with limited technology and from within their own bubbles – to produce audio recordings to share during these extraordinary times of social distancing. The range of writings include poetry, Chinese immigration stories, children’s book excerpts and spiritual pieces based on overcoming adversity, highlighting the unique diversity of East Auckland writers.

Areez Katki

Areez Katki is a multidisciplinary artist and writer, born in Mumbai, India and raised in Howick, Tamaki Makaurau. He addresses his value for craft sensibilities through a research driven contemporary practice. Over the duration of his career Areez has focused on the significance of textile materiality in the domestic realm and an ongoing engagement with these narratives.

Kitty Chang

Kitty Chang came to New Zealand as a migrant child in 1950.  She trained as a teacher and taught in early childhood education through to university level. Following her teaching career, she worked for New Zealand Qualifications Authority and Careers Services and is a lifelong learner.

Kitty writes stories based on the experiences of early Chinese migrants to New Zealand.  She has completed oral history recordings funded by the Ministry of Culture and Heritage. These are available on loan from the National Library in Wellington.  She is working on a book about the New Zealand Chinese experience.

Marilyn J Bakker

Marilyn J Bakker is a writer and small business owner, who lives with her partner, Wally, in East Auckland. Educated in Gisborne, Marilyn left home as a teenager to further her education at Ardmore Teachers Training College, eventually settling in East Auckland. As a young mother of three, she completed a degree at Massey and Auckland Universities, developing a life-long love of history in the process. Work experiences include teaching, sales management, writing, graphic design, print, and small business ownership.

A visit to the Netherlands, Ireland and France in 2013 provided fascinating stories of local folklore which the author has drawn on to create a background tapestry for her third book of the trilogy, The Adventures of Josephine Mary Cresswell which is set in the Coromandel Peninsula in the 1950’s. Titles include Danger at Devil’s Cove, The Mystery of the Missing Artefact and In Seach of the Tarasque. Copies are available on loan from the Pakuranga Community Library.

Natasha Bidesi

Natasha Bidesi is a young writer, media fanatic and proud woman of colour. As someone who channels strong visuals and emotive reactions, she finds her inspiration in the smallest waves of life. Her work encourages connection to mind, body, soul and Earth. Natasha’s work acts as a catalyst in the realisation that our similarities wondrously outweigh our differences. By day, Natasha works in communications and branding and is an avid (though unprofessional) wine connoisseur by night.

Please note this recording includes strong language. Discretion is advised.

Ruth Hammond

Ruth Hammond is a local creative, with expertise in both writing and craft. Ruth’s personal experience with spirituality has informed an intuitive style of Christian writing. Her books Soft whispers… small shouts…. deep waters and Being with God encourage readers to explore their own spiritual journey. These books were accepted as donations to New Zealand prisons, with over 4000 copies being gifted to prisoners. Ruth has been involved in prison chaplaincy, which she says has been “an unexpected but most fulfilling experience”.

In 2010, Ruth created the initiative Classy Crafts, a craft-based market that many locals have come to know and love. Classy Crafts gave local makers an opportunity to sell their creations including crochet, knitting, woodwork, metalwork, jewellery and other forms of craft.

Connecting generations through a nostalgic experience that uses both old and new practices, indoor and outdoor spaces.

Brendan Kitto’s series of images graced bus stops around East Auckland through January. With support from Wally Rice, an installation of the images was also on display at Rices Mall in Howick Village.

The photographic installation featured images of local landmarks and places of significance from the past and present.

Titled ‘Howick’, this project revisits photographer Brendan Kitto’s early years of growing up in East Auckland, shining light on the importance of history and documentation during a time of growth and redevelopment.

The local community was encouraged to interact with the installations and photograph themselves with Brendan’s images. It was excellent to see so many people actively seek out the installation and document their encounter.

Thanks to Wally Rice at Rices Mall and the team at oOh! Media for supporting this project.

W: brendankitto.com | IG: @brendankitto