Opening launch & HĀNGĪ
Sunday 10 April 2-4 pm
RENEE COSGRAVE & DOROTHY NILSON(NZ)
Whanaunga is an exhibition of new paintings by Renee Cosgrave with works by her Whaea (Aunty) Dorothy Nilson. Whanaunga means relative in te reo Māori. Renee’s oil paintings were made over the last few years and during this time Renee has been connecting to culture. These works speak to concepts of whakapapa (geneology), whenua (land), te reo Māori (language) and rāranga (weaving). Renee’s oil paintings are abstract and explore colour and repetition. The colour in Renee’s works tend to reference colours in land and waters, becoming dedicated to sites or an elder. These works are simple in their construction and they are enjoyable for the artist to make, usually constructed from left to right, like reading a book or like the way weavings are constructed. Tension, rhythm and being relaxed are important when Renee makes these works.
Renee shares the exhibition space with her aunty as this show is very much about whānau (family). Renee was attracted to Abstract, a sombre, small and very dark painting of flowers, hiding in her whaea’s home. Both Renee and Whaea Dorothy use art making as a tool for healing and growth. Whaea Dorothy and Renee are from the Ngāti Tūwharetoa iwi (tribe). Renee is based in Narrm on Wurundjeri Woi wurrung Country and Whaea Dorothy lives in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland), Aotearoa (New Zealand).
Renee has invited Māori community groups who have helped her on her journey to use the gallery space for learning on weekends.
Sat 2 – Sun 3 April:
Te Reo O Te Wahine is a karanga class, Whaea Marie Whareaitu is the kaiako (teacher), these classes have been held online & are based in Narrm. This rōpū (group) will hold wānanga at Blak Dot Gallery from Sat 2 – Sun 3 April.
Sat 9 – Sun 10 April:
Te Rau Aroha O Te Reo & Te Anga Whakamua - an online Māori language class, based in Narrm will hold wānanga at Blak Dot Gallery from 9 – 10 April. Dougy Petley is the kaiako (teacher) for this rōpū.
PUBLIC EVENTS:
Sunday 10 April 2-4 pm
Opening launch & hāngī
Sunday 17 April 12-4 pm
Raranga/Weaving afternoon with Renee Cosgrave
Image credit:
Left: Dorothy Nilson, Abstract, 2012, Oil paint on canvas, 33 x 24cm
Right: Renee Cosgrave, Ko Tongiriro te maunga, 2021, Oil on linen, 122 x 102 cm