pasifika styles - workshops

Rock Pools and Hula Skirts workshop developed by Rosanna Raymond

LAST CHANCE to see the Pasifika Styles Exhibition!

The Pasifika Styles exhibition closes on 23 February 2008.

Join us during half-term (11-15 February) for a week of events and activities featuring special guests Toi Hauiti, from Tolaga Bay, New Zealand. In addition to scheduled activities, artists will conduct demonstrations in the galleries during the week and will be available to answer your questions.

Come to the Pacific Communities Day on Saturday 23 February and help us celebrate the end of the project.

Maori Weaving Presentation

Fiona Collis
Monday 11 February 2008, 7:30 - 8:30pm
An evening presentation at the Museum for those with a particular interest in the techniques, materials and meanings of Maori weaving. Renowned practitioner Fiona Collis will discuss both traditional and contemporary weaving and participants will be able to try their hand at whatu (finger-weaving) techniques using pre-prepared samples. Entry by donation - all welcome

Maori Pattern and Design Activities

Alison Waru
Tuesday 12 February 2008, 10:30am - 1:00pm Wednesday 13 and Friday 15 February 2008, 1:30 - 4:00pm
Painter Alison Waru leads drop-in art activities exploring Maori patterns and designs, their significance and meaning. No bookings necessary Donations welcome - suitable for all ages

Ta Moko - Maori Tattoo Lunchtime Seminar

Mark Kopua and Toi Hauiti Artists
Tuesday 12 February 2008, 1:00 - 2:00pm
Internationally renowned ta moko practitioner and Maori carver Mark Kopua leads a presentation and discussion on traditional and contemporary Maori tattooing practice. His fellow artists will each show and talk about their own moko (tattoos). Entry by donation

Purerehua (Bull-roarer) Workshop

Toi Hauiti Artists
Thursday 14 February 2008, 10:30am - 4:00pm
Come and decorate a Purerehua, a Maori bullroarer. This traditional wooden musical instrument is twirled around the head to make a unique throbbing, rhythmic sound, and is still used today. This is a drop-in activity, with no bookings necessary. Donations welcome - suitable for all ages

PACIFIC COMMUNITIES DAY Craft Market, Performances and Presentations

Saturday 23 February 2008, 10:30am - 4:30pm
Participating groups include: Beats of Polynesia The London Fale Kiribati-Tuvalu Association London Kohanga Reo Manaia Maori Performing Arts Maramara Totara Ngati Ranana - The London Maori Club Oxford Papuan Village Toi Hauiti All-day Activities: Craft market, ukelele band, Maori weaving demonstrations, audio-visual presentations of Maori weaponry displays and kapa haka (performing arts). Scheduled Presentations: 11:00 am Te Kaharoa Internationally renowned ta moko (Maori tattoo) practitioner and carver Mark Kopua of the group Toi Hauiti (from Tolaga Bay, New Zealand) leads a presentation on the Te Kaharoa project. Te Kaharoa is about the legacy of the seafaring nature and culture of our Pacific origins, our reliance and relationship with Tangaroa the primary Atua of Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa. 12:00 noon Free West Papua Oxford Papuan Village offer insights into the current political situation in West Papua (Irian Jaya). 1:00 pm Digital Repatriation Sarah Ngata-Gibson from the Maori group Toi Hauiti leads a presentation and discussion of new approaches to the repatriation of cultural treasures using digital media. 2.30 pm Global Warming in the Pacific The Kiribati-Tuvalu Association give an insiderís perspective on global warming and how it affects people in the Pacific as their islands sink beneath the sea.
Entry to the Museum is FREE as usual. Donations are welcome to support the participating community groups and artists.

Free Activities Day

Tuesday 29 May 2007, 10.30am - 4.30pm
Workshop leaders: Helen Vaike and Rosanna Raymond Activities will take place all day in the galleries of the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Downing Street, Cambridge. Titi iti - Drop-in workshops Learn the techniques involved in making a small hula skirt and make one of your own to take away (subject to availability) Decorate a giant Pacific 'barkcloth' Timed activities: Games from the Pacific 10.30am - 12pm 3.30 - 4.30pm Traditional movement and games from the Pacific Hula classes. Learn the various island styles of Polynesian dance. 12 and 2pm Storytelling. Hear about Maui of a thousand tricks in this interactive storytelling session. 3pm All these activities are free, donations very welcome.


Free Lunchtime Short Film Screenings
30 May-1 June 2007, 1-2pm
Drop in at lunchtime and watch a fabulous selection of short films by Pacific filmmakers from New Zealand: Tatau - A Journey Directed by Lisa Taouma A documentary exploring tatau (tattooing) in the Pacific, this film charts the historical and cultural values surrounding the practice. Siva Pasifika Directed by Lisa Taouma A documentary charting the migration of Pacific dance throughout Polynesia and 'polyfest in New Zealand today. Nothing to Declare - Fa'afine in Transit Directed by Lisa Taouma A look at the trials and tribulation of the fa'afafine community in their homeland and when travelling to other countries. Screenings will take place in the video room (top floor gallery) at the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Downing Street, Cambridge.

Maori Weaving Workshops in London

Bethany Edmunds
Two three–hour evening courses on Tuesday 5th September and Thursday 7th September, and a 6 hour session on Saturday 9th September 2006
Workshops covering the history of Maori weaving and associated legends, harvesting, preparation and weaving techniques. Learn to weave a Kete Konae (two corner flax purse) and putiputi (flax flowers). Assistance is available for more complicated projects undertaken by more experienced weavers. £40 (includes materials) ∗∗For details phone (07932) 179 881 or email ∗∗

Traditional Maori Dye Techniques and Taaniko-weaving Workshop

Kahutoi Te Kanawa and Bethany Edmunds
Saturday – Sunday 1-2 July 2006, 10am – 4pm
A two-day workshop at Whitehouse Arts exploring Maori dye techniques and decorative taaniko-weaving using native fibres, barks and traditional water-heating materials. £75 (includes materials)

Traditional Maori Dye Techniques Workshop

Kahutoi Te Kanawa and Bethany Edmunds
Monday 26 June 2006, 10am – 4pm
A one-day workshop at Whitehouse Arts exploring Maori dye techniques using native fibres, barks and traditional water-heating materials. £40 (includes materials)

Sandals and Bags

Maureen Lander
Weds 17 – Thurs 18 May 2006, 10am – 4pm
This course is run in association with the University Botanic Garden. Make your own summer sandals and bags (kete) using NZ flax (Phormium tenax) and other NZ fibre plant materials. Learn some traditional Maori sandal and kete-making techniques using flax leaves - then create your own designs by incorporating different materials and decorative elements. Suitable for those who have done the “Fun with Flax” workshop (above) or for those who have some experience in plaitwork techniques. £75 (includes materials) SOLD OUT

Fun with Flax

Maureen Lander
Tues 16 May 2006, 10am – 4.30pm
This course is run in association with the University Botanic Garden. The workshop will focus on New Zealand flax (Phormium tenax), a plant used extensively by Maori people in the past for its strength and versatility. Have some fun learning to make a range of small projects from flax leaves, using a variety of braiding and plaitwork techniques. Suitable for all, including beginners. £40 (includes materials) SOLD OUT

Pasifika Activity Day

With artists Reuben Paterson and Ani O’Neill
Saturday 22 April 2006, 2pm – 4:30pm
Come to the Museum for a fun day of arty activities, including binding stars with Cook Islands artist Ani O’Neill and glitter painting with Maori artist Reuben Paterson. Learn about Polynesian art in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, surrounded by the museum’s amazing collections. Activities will be available to suit all ages. Participation is free. There is no need to book. Please contact Sarah-Jane Harknett at the Museum for further information (01223) 764 769

Maori Culture Workshop

Escape Artists and Manaia Maori Performing Arts
Thurs 9 March – 5 May 2006, 10 weekly sessions
A workshop at Romsey Mill for young people exploring aspects of Maori culture, including dance, martial arts, tattoo, storytelling, and musical instruments. Activities will encourage self-confidence, expression and creativity, and participants will have opportunities to visit the Museum and find out about its Maori collections. Participation in this workshop is free. Please contact Anita or Christine at Escape Artists for information and bookings (01223) 412 695

Maori Storytelling workshop

Rangimoana Taylor
Mon 21 November 2005
A skills sharing workshop for training in storytelling. Rangimoana explained why storytelling was and is important to Maori in the preservation and continuation of an oral history and shared the techniques of his iwi (people/tribe). There were opportunities for storytelling within the day, some participants told stories from their own culture.

Pacific Voices performance

Rangimoana Taylor and Rosanna Raymond
Thurs 10 November 2005
Rangimoana Taylor performed a selection of ancient stories and two modern pieces, in the anthropology gallery of the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Cambridge. Samoan Tusitala Rosanna Raymond told traditional stories and performed Warm Breezes and Soft Touches, her own poetry blended with instruments and oral histories.

Pacific Voices performance, with British Sign Language interpretation

Rangimoana Taylor
Tues 8 November 2005
Rangimoana Taylor performed ancient myths and legends from his native Aotearoa (New Zealand). This performance took place in the Vauxhall Centre, Norwich. Jim Dunne provided interpretation into British Sign Language.