Raranga Taura Here Community Arts Project Star Waka

12 Coromandel Weavers - Ngā Turuturu o te Tara present Raranga Taura Here - Star Waka, a contemporary raranga exhibition, demonstration and wānanga; on opportunity to weave your own star to add to the symbolic waka and starstudded universe led by Dr Maureen Lander.

The community will be invited to take part by making stars from bracken, harakeke, ice cream sticks and wool. These will be suspended in the marquee, the community will also have the opportunity to attach bundles of feathers to the frame of the waka. Following the poetry reading, the community will be invited to come and receive stars. The notion being you give away the first thing you make and receives someone else as a gift to take home.

This project acknowledges past, present and future voyaging to and from Aotearoa in all directions, with the stars reflecting navigation patterns over time and space. Together the waka and the stars symbolise the universe and the binding together of ira atua (the realm of the gods) and ira tangata (the realm of humans). Star Waka is the name of a book of poems by Māori poet Robert Sullivan, who will perform poetry on both Saturday and Sunday. Chris Charteris will design a waka structure for the weaving to be attached to.

Ngā Turuturu o te Tara also warmly invite weavers to join their collective.

This event is part of the Tuia – Encounters 250 programme.