Workshops: Insurge

October 2, 2019

To celebrate the Insurge exhibition opening for Melbourne Fringe, we are hosting a free, one-day workshop series for Pasifika and Indigenous young people aged 15 - 23 years with spoken-word artists and activists, Grace Vanilau and Jacynta Fuamatu.

- Where: Kingston Arts Centre, 979 Nepean Hwy. Moorabbin (wheelchair accessible venue)
- When: Wednesday 2 October, 10am - 3pm
- This event is for Pasifika and Indigenous young people aged 15 - 23 years.
- Free, places limited. Lunch is provided.
**RSVP by Monday 23 September with dietary requirements - or (03) 9556 4462.**

WORKSHOP: UPU - WORD
Spoken Word Workshop facilitated by Grace Vanilau

‘Upu’ - is the Samoan term for word.

The authority and energy we give to a word or a thought, can shift our lens and provide a powerful understanding of how we can navigate and manifest our dreams into lived realities.

In celebration of the 2019 Year of Indigenous languages - ‘Upu’ will encourage participants to explore their worlds and identities through language, oratory, cultural values and beliefs. Transforming their stories into a spoken word performance piece or poem.

WORKSHOP: 'FRONTLINE TRUTHS'
Pacific Climate Warriors Storytelling Workshop facilitated by Jacynta Fuamatu

The power of storytelling can be as big as our imagination allows. The most empowering stories that are told about climate action are from communities who are living at the frontlines of its impacts. Frontline truths are real stories told by real people in their own words and in their own way. This is a tool used by the Pacific Climate Warriors who have inspired change in the movement.

There are many ways to tell a great story, this workshop will give you the tools to practice sharing your story.

If you knew your story could influence change in your community, would you be willing to share it?
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'Insurge' is presented by New Wayfinders and curated by Isabella Whāwhai Waru at Kingston Arts Centre Galleries. 'Insurge' features new work by visual, sound, and performance artists of Oceanic descent, commissioned by Kingston Arts for Melbourne Fringe.

Sunday Salon - Drowning Not Waving

September 29, 2019

Join us in a wood carving session, facilitated by New Wayfinders and Pacific Climate Warriors, as they share stories and highlight the realities of climate change and some of the work being done on the frontlines as resistance, as they share the spirit “we are not drowning, we are fighting”.

Light snacks will be provided, children are welcome and bookings are essential.

Presented as part of Go Deeper, Wyndham Art Gallery's Engagement Program. This Sunday Salon is in conjunction with Drowning Not Waving Exhibition.

New Wayfinders is a community collective that serves as a platform for aspiring, emerging, and established Oceanic diaspora artists; creating opportunities, connections, workshops, and networks within Narrm and abroad.

350 Pacific is a youth led grassroots network working with communities to fight climate change from the Pacific Islands.

350 Pacific works with organisers across 15 Pacific Island nations to highlight the vulnerabilities of our island countries to climate change while showcasing our strength and resilience as a people. We work through existing networks and with a range of partner organisations who share in our vision for the Pacific and the planet.

350 Pacific has organised, and facilitated workshops to educate and empower youth in the region, we have organised days of action to raise awareness and we have participated in the UN climate negotiations. Now, we are mobilising the warriors of the Pacific Islands to challenge the fossil fuel industry.

Lino Block Printing with the Australian Print Workshop

April - July, 2019

In this studio series offered by the Australian Print Workshop, 6 artists from the New Wayfinders Collective were lucky enough to try their hand at Lino Block printing.

Australian Print Workshop is a not-for-profit arts organisation with a proud 35 year record of supporting Artists to produce original, limited edition, fine art prints. 

Coconut Fibre Workshop

March 30, 2019

We are very excited to have Aunty Vicki Kinai join us at SIGNAL to host a coconut fibre workshop. In this workshop you will learn how to husk coconut fibre, to be used as a broom or braided. 

This workshop will be one part of a series of community workshops organised by New Wayfinders as part of Signal’s ‘Young Creatives Lab’ Program.  This workshop will be one part of a series of community workshops organised by New Wayfinders as part of Signal’s ‘Young Creatives Lab’ Program. 

Vicki Kinai is Papua New Guinean artist and weaver, originally Mt. Hagen and now lives in Melbourne. She is highly recognized for practicing her Cultural Art, the traditional ‘Bilum Weaving’ an integral culture of women in PNG.

F7 Soul Drummers X New Wayfinders

October 27, 2018

Join F7 Soul Drummers and New Wayfinders for a community drumming workshop, sharing various styles of Polynesian drumming. This workshop  showcases F7 Soul Drummer’s talents, as well as teaching participants some basic techniques. This workshop will be one part of a series of community workshops organised by New Wayfinders as part of Signal’s ‘Young Creatives Lab’ Program. The workshops are intended to upskill community members in their cultural, creative endeavours, with hopes to foster confidence and collaboration.
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Signal provides emerging and established artists with opportunities and spaces for exploration, creation and showcasing.
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A Team of Men with (F)aith and Love for Cultural Drumming, showcasing what the Good Lord gave through Sounds of Traditional and Current Pacific Beats. We are: ‘F7’.

Salusalu (Fijian style garland) Making Workshop

Connection Art Space Gallery | June 23rd, 2018

Pasifika community members are invited to join New Wayfinders for a Salusalu making workshop hosted by Yas Kai Lomai. 

Salusalu are garlands worn during ceremonial and festive occasions. Created by women, they are presented to the guests of honour at events, normally when being welcomed. Made of hibiscus (vau) fibre, they may be further decorated with fresh flowers, leaves, masi or twine ribbons and rosettes. The scent as well as the appearance of salusalu are very important.

The basics of this workshop can be used across many different lei creations :) 

Materials provided, just bring yourself :) 

Image source: http://maa.cam.ac.uk/garland-2013-32/

New Wayfinders: Ocean Stories from Home

Connection Art Space Gallery | June 15th, 2018

New Wayfinders wishes to invite you to our debut visual arts exhibition; 'Ocean Stories from Home’, launching at Connection Arts Space, Dandenong. 'Ocean Stories from Home’ celebrates our beautiful oceanic families but also delves into the complex narratives of family within diasporic Pasifika contexts, portraying stories of migration, connection and home. Join us for the launch, and share your story too.

Featuring artists:
Mereani Qalovakawasa
Kui Taukilo
Peter Lemalu
Katherine Reade
Alec Reade
Ella Benore Rowe
Elvie Rowe
Irihipeti Waretini 
Marcelina Te Arohanui Pijewska

Opening Night performance by Polynesian dancer Fipe Pruess

Blak-Queer Futurism

Artspace (SYD) | March 14th, 2018

We live in a world that is highly influenced by bla(c)k and queer cultures. Although this prevails, futurism in popular media fails to reflect a near future where bla(c)k and/or queer people are main protagonists or central to the progression of humanity and the protection of our environment. 

Blak-Queer Futurism reestablishes Queer Indigenous speculative futures from here and abroad, drawing upon resilience, knowledge and spirituality. Through multi-disciplinary works, the artists involved relay narratives attained through story, family, experience, country, and dreaming, to actualise the future today, subverting the imperativity of popular futurist speculation. 

The exhibition delves into the collective knowledge of each of the artists and their respective origins as a means of self-determination and representation, creatively examining the ways in which Queer Indigenous people will influence generations to come.

Blak Kabaret Klub: Bla(c)k Ball

Blak Dot Gallery | March 8, 2018

The Blak Kabaret Klub opens with diasporic art collectives - this mob, Still Nomads and New Wayfinders presenting: Bla(c)k Ball − a collaborative night of spoken word & poetry, dj's & live performance, showcasing bla(c)k talent in Birraranga (Melbourne) in a gathering of shared beauty and extraness. 

This is a free event, but only 50 tickets available so register using the Ticket link above to secure a spot!

(Photo: Kirsten Lyttle)

LINE UP:

Consciously Kyah
General Vibes
DJ KYAANZ
Laniyuk Garçon-Mills
Maylene
OBSΔ
Pauline Vetuna
Pookie
Vateresio Tuikaba

KOKO KALApU

Footscray Community Arts Centre | 16 February 2018

Vaiusu Creators Space and FCAC invite you to experience KOKO KALApU – a kaleidoscope of culture derived from the wants of a native being’s instincts and creativity. Featuring a vibrant line up of spoken word artists, visual artists, singers and dancers from the Pacific arts community. KOKO KALApU is a space where art, music, performance and community come together and ask: 

How does the new aged savage connect in concrete worlds?

ARTIST LINEUP: 
Grace Vanilau
DJ Dee Luscious
Kalala
New Wayfinders
Nuholani
Rolly Loughlin
Asalemo Tofete
Te Rarangi Gussy Paikea
Irihipeti Waretini
Lesieli Taufa
Te Mauri O Te Poi Ki Poipiripi
Filomena Wairasi (Nesian Pearl)
Lay the mystic

WHEN: Friday 16 February,
Drinks: 6.00pm – 7.00pm
Performance: 7.00pm – 8.00pm
DJ: 8.00pm – 10.00pm

VENUE: FCAC
COST: $10 pre-sale / $15 on the door. (Please note: ticket does not include drink purchase.)

CONTENT: Suitable for mature audiences

Check out other FCAC events: http://footscrayarts.com/events/category/event/

Qtipoc Talanoa

Blak Dot Gallery | February 3rd, 2018

‘Talanoa’ is a word used widely across the Pacific to describe storytelling. Talanoa is a transparent and inclusive dialogue – ‘Tala’ meaning talking or telling stories and ‘noa’ meaning “zero or without concealment”. Centring sharing, warmth, love, humour and respect, the act of talanoa allows for collective empathy and understanding.

With this in mind, co-curators of Blak-Queer Futurism, Alec Reade and Kalyani Mumtaz invite you to join Aunty Amao Leota Lu, Leah Avene and Tyson Campbell in a discussion, centring each members experiences in identity and aspirations of the future.

Each responder will share phenomenological ideas towards how they believe theirs and their community’s future will come to fruition, and ways in which they have and continue to approach this today.

Image : 'Dandy Boy' by Peter Waples-Crow

Blak-Queer Futurism

Blak Dot Gallery | January 18th, 2018

We live in a world that is highly influenced by bla(c)k and queer cultures. Although this prevails, futurism in popular media fails to reflect a near future where bla(c)k and/or queer people are main protagonists or central to the progression of humanity and the protection of our environment.

‘Blak-Queer Futurism’ re-establishes Queer Indigenous speculative futures from here and abroad, drawing upon resilience, knowledge and spirituality. Through multi-disciplinary works, the artists involved relay narratives attained through story, family, experience, country, and dreaming, to actualise the future today, subverting the imperativity of popular futurist speculation.

The exhibition delves into the collective knowledge of each of the artists and their respective origins as a means of self-determination and representation, creatively examining the ways in which Queer Indigenous people will influence generations to come.


CO-CURATED BY: ALEC READE | KALYANI MUMTAZ

FEATURING: AKASHI | BHENJI RA | HANNAH BRONTE | JERMAINE DEAN | KALYANI MUMTAZ X OREN KANSKI LAVIE | NEW WAYFINDERS


BLAK DOT BILLBOARDS - (LANE-WAY) 
DAISY CATTERALL | KATE TEN BUUREN | PETER WAPLES-CROW | SEAN MILES | SIAN VANDERMUELEN | TAMA tk SHARMAN

Image: Jermaine Dean

DJ line up: FROPHRESH, DJ KYAANZ & Friends

Memories // Disperse

Footscray Community Arts Centre | September 23 2017

New Wayfinders and Footscray Community Arts Centre team up to bring you “MEMORIES // DISPERSE”, a night of visual, aural and performative responses, as part of FCAC’s ‘West of What?’ Festival and Fringe Festival.

Featuring an amazing array of emerging poets and spoken word artists, musicians, dancers and projection artists, each participant seeks to reclaim their identity, working in solidarity to inspire and empower all to look within themselves and reconnect with their ancestral lineage.

Come and join us, and help us see out a wonderful day of festivities!

WHEN Saturday 23 September, 7pm – 9pm
VENUE FCAC Performance Space
COST $13 (suggested ticket price*)
*No one turned away for lack of funds

Colour Copy // 10,000 Staples

£1000 Bend | June 18, 2017

Sticky Institute is teaming up with Still Nomads and New Wayfinders to bring you Colour Copy, an afternoon dedicated to people of colour enjoying and creating zines together. 

Join us for walk-in zine making workshops with creator of Keep Brave zine, and all-round zine-queen, Daisy Catterall. 1.00-2.30pm and 3.00-4.30pm. All materials provided.

Feel free to BYO zines, artworks, and ideas to show, share or trade with other makers! 

Stick around for the afternoon to soak up our selection of artworks, zines, books and tunes - for us, by us.

10,000 Staples will be at Thousand Pound Bend as part of Emerging Writers' Festival (June 14 — 23). For more information visit www.stickyinstitute.com 

Queer Pasifika: FAF SWAG Doco screening + Panel on Wellbeing

Drummond Street Youth Services | May 18, 2017

Creating space - Sharing space - Owning space

In a collaborative pursuit between New Wayfinders and the (in)Visible project, we're presenting Vice Aotearoa's FAF SWAG documentary followed by a QPOC panel with some of Melbourne's most prominent queer Pasifika artists and musicians - Daisy Catterall, Ripley Kavara and more TBA

Read about FAF SWAG and the documentary here: https://www.vice.com/en_au/article/vogueing-for-survival-inside-new-zealands-radical-pacific-queer-community

This event is specifically for queer people of colour and it is freeee! It will be a safe space for QPOC to explore, discuss and celebrate their identities in the lens of creative expression, what a community needs to thrive and what we can do to support our community. The venue is wheelchair accessible.
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(in)Visible is a project that aims to connect young queer and trans people from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds through community workshops and events, based on Wurundjeri land.

Yirramboi First Nations Arts Festival: 'to know each other"

RMIT Basketball Courts | May 13 2017

As part of Yirramboi First Nations Arts Festival (5 — 14 May) - a group of First Nations, Pasifika and African artists gather for a collective expression of dance, music, monologue and poetry. 

'to know each other' is a creative exploration of the experiences of colonisation through expressions of culture. 

Weaving a story about solidarity and its many layers, struggles and triumphs – 'to know each other' will stir your soul.

ARTISTS 

Aisha Trambas // spoken word
Alec Reade // spoken word 
Bilisummaa Dance Group // dance
Brent Watkins // music
Delali Zevon-Aniakwah // vocals 
Fipe Keanu // dance
Hael Musa // spoken word
Idil Ali // spoken word
Khalid Warsame // monologue
Mitch Boney // music
Neil Morris // music 
Obsa Yousuf // music
Olugbade Okunade // music
Shabba // dance
Soreti // spoken word
Yasbelle Kerkow // spoken word
Yusuf Harare Jnr // music

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BARRING YANABUL (we all walk the path)

Explore the beautiful Blak heart of Melbourne in a day-long city-wide treasure hunt of fun, provocative, experimental and interactive arts and culture that will surprise, unite and inspire. Grab a map to guide you to First Nations artists filling the streets, laneways, hidden places and secret spaces of the world’s most liveable city.

Prepare for a city-wide Blak out!

Connecting // Collecting

Blak Dot Gallery | April 9, 2017

this mob, Still Nomads and New Wayfinders are proud to present 'Collecting // Connecting', a free collaborative pop up exhibition supported by and held at Blak Dot Gallery. This curatorial effort draws upon the shared experience amongst dispossessed and displaced People of Colour within Birraranga.

Including visual works from members of this mob and Still Nomads, Collecting // Connecting is an open, creative space celebrating bla(c)kness.

There will be a space for everyone to bring along a small work to add to the exhibition. One wall in the gallery will be a blank canvas that we will add to as you arrive with more work. It may be either something you've made or something you love that we can hang up all together on the day. There will also be spoken word/an open mic, DJ's, nibbles & drinks as well as the soft launch of New Wayfinders- a new Pasifika Artist Collective. Come along and take part in the fun, have a chat to members, or just enjoy the safe and inclusive space.