B.
Parekowhai in schools
Behind the scenes
If you visited Michael Parekowhai's show last month on a weekday, more than likely you shared the experience with a class load of children. We had almost a thousand kids from ten Christchurch schools come and see the exhibition and listen to the piano being played.
Students from room 3 at St Annes's Catholic School standing beside their favourite sculpture.
Students from Burnside Primary School listening to Michael talk about his work.
The schools' visits were supported by Telstra Clear who provided buses for the groups to come to the installation. Each class will also be treated to a follow-up art lesson at their school this month. So, I am returning to the ten schools that came on the buses and teaching a lesson based Michael's red piano, He Korero Purakau Te Awanui O Te Motu: A Story of a New Zealand River.
The students each make a paper waka (you'd smile at how many kids think I've turned up with a massive log and hammers and chisels) and decorating it with symbols, colours and patterns that tell a story about themselves, where they are from and who is important to them.
Busy making thier waka at Bishopdale Primary School
Graeme from St Anne's Catholic Primary School working on his waka decorated with Samoan patterns.