Seven Sisters of Matariki: an exhibition
Ngā Tuāhine e whitu o Matariki
When: 28 June – 19 September Where: Waitakere Central Library, West Auckland Research Centre, Level 2 Cost of entry: Free Celebrate Matariki 2014 with Seven Sisters, a collaboration between Auckland Libraries and Soldiers Road Artists. This exhibition features the work of Soldiers Rd artists Taaniko Nordstrom (stylist) and Vienna Nordstrom (photographer), and was curated by Rachelle Forbes (Kaiwhakahaere Māori). The photo shoot involved seven kaimahi Māori from across Auckland Libraries including:
- Jennifer Barnett – Community Library Manager, Manurewa
- Jamie-Lee Kingi – Library Assistant, Botany
- Lawren Matrix – Librarian Children and Youth, Matariki Clendon
- Anahera Sadler – Pou Whakahaere, Māori Service Development
- Tania Scurr – Librarian Children and Youth, Glen Eden
- Daena Walker – Libraries Advisor Life Long Learning, Service Development
- Kirsty Webb – Team Leader, North Auckland Research Centre
Seven Sisters celebrates the Māori world view quite literally as well as conceptually. Each librarian represents a star of the Matariki constellation. Aesthetically the images are reminiscent of the carte de viste portraits of the 1860s and 1870s, but the purpose or kaupapa behind them is very different. It is important today that as Māori women, we are telling our own stories and ensuring the world sees us through our own eyes. It’s not just about celebration but reclamation. Our connection to our iwi and hapuu alongside our connections to one another, our taonga and our communities are all an important part of our story – and why we do what we do. Auckland Libraries is currently planning its Māori Responsiveness project; our whakautu or response to Auckland Council’s Māori Responsiveness Framework. The exhibition is a creative response by Libraries to encourage learning around the concepts of kaitiakitanga, whakawhanaungatanga, rangatiratanga and mana wāhine.
Soldiers Rd 