Where: Percy Thomson Gallery, Stratford

Official Opening: Fri 30 June 2023, 6:00pm–7:30pm.

Curated exhibition by Gabrielle Belz and Bonita Bigham. In the spirit of sisterhood, Toi o Taranaki Ki Te invited indigenous women artists to exhibit. The Māori name for Stratford – Whakaahurangi, meaning ‘Look to the Heavens’, acknowledges an event during the journey of the Ngāti Ruanui ariki (chieftainess), Rua-pū-tahanga, as she travelled from the Tainui area back home to Pātea in South Taranaki. On her long journey she rested, gazing up at the starry night sky and fell asleep with her face still turned heavenward.

The hope of this exhibition is to bring work from experienced women artists from diverse cultures and nations together, strengthening cooperation and the aspirations of future generations. It seems appropriate that such an exhibition occurs at a significant time.  In Taranaki it is the rising of Puanga (Rigel), followed by Matariki (Pleiades).

Free Entry.