Ocula.com | Tautai Opening a ‘Dream’ for Pacific Art Community
Talia Smith, Surfacing, 2020. Detail. Courtesy the artist.
Prior to the COVID-19 lockdown announced today, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was scheduled to launch Pacific Arts organisation Tautai's new space in Auckland on Thursday 26 March.
That won't happen, but the space is nevertheless a major step forward for the Pasifika arts community according to its director, Courtney Sina Meredith.
'The establishment of a gallery specifically for contemporary Pacific artists was a dream of founding patron Fatu Feu'u and his peers when Tautai initially formed [in the 1980s]. He's been in to see the space recently and the smile on his face said it all,' she said.
'This is a historic moment that marks the beginning of a new chapter for our artists and our community, but it's also about coming full circle and honouring our founders,' Meredith said.
She said the new Tautai would be primarily a place to share ideas and practices, but wouldn't preclude Pasifika artists selling their work.
Read the full article via Ocula here