| Otara Hot Nights |
 Bula vinaka good
people!I am holding a social in south Auckland to raise money to support my travel and participation in the prestigious College Art Association conference taking place in Los Angeles, USA from 25-28 February 2009. My abstract entitled, Fresh Gallery Otara: Contemporary Pacific Art and Audiences in South Auckland has been accepted and I have been programmed to speak alongside Giles Peterson, respected curator and lecturer at Whitecliffe College of Art and Design, and Leilani Kake, Otara-based Maori/Cook Island video installation artist , in the Urban Pacific Art in Aotearoa New Zealand panel discussion facilitated by the Pacific Arts Association. I will have some support from my employer, Manukau City Council but I will need to raise the bulk of my costs via my own means. Unfortunately, as a member of the Pacific Arts Committee of Creative New Zealand, I am also ineligible for that funding. So, Otara Hot Nights will be no Safari or Khuja Lounge - The Opal Lounge has a specialness all of its own! It is located in the row of shops at the g.a.s station on Great South Road in the Bermuda triangle between Otahuhu, Papatoetoe and Otara: it actually sits on the edge of Tamaki estuary, but don't expect water views! You can expect good old skool rap and hip hop, cheap drinks and no frills!! I would like to invite you to support me and this important professional and personal career move by purchasing a ticket for $20.00 and coming along to the Opal Lounge on Saturday 29 November to share a drink with me and the fantastic and inspirational crew that inspires me and sustains me. All funds raised will go directly towards costs of travel and accommodation in Los Angeles. Upon return, Giles, Leilani and I will be presenting a series of public talks about the trip featuring video footage, photography and lively discussion. I will be sure to let you know when these are taking place. Leilani and I have also got a strong desire to touch base with Pacific communities in Carson City, south of Compton where there are over 30,000 Pacific people - Carson and Manukau have some real parallels, so we can't wait to build on the links between Manukau and Carson and come back to share our experiences. Thanks for your time - if you'd like to buy a ticket, drop me an email and we can sort out a way to do a handover... There are only 100 tickets - it should be an Otara Hot Night!!  |
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