News and Events

In November 2007 I travelled to San Francisco with my brother Garry, John Dow, and Joe Harawira, to open discussions on a Maori art exhibition returning to the city. We met with officials at City Hall, our native American friends, city administrators, and curatorial staff at the De Young Museum. The return to San Francisco, planned for October 2008, will feature artists in residence, a fashion show, and a high quality show of small Maori treasures.

We travelled on to Vancouver for the formal welcome of a large New Zealand contingent by our friends Larry, Gina and their native Musqueam people. This occasion celebrated the inaugural direct flights by Air New Zealand between New Zealand and Vancouver.

From Vancouver, I travelled to Terrace in British Columbia, to visit Dempsey Bob for a few days. Together, we visited Frieda Diesing School of Art, and other new projects in Terrace. I caught up with Norman Jackson, Stan Bevan, Willie White and Christian White, who are among the great artists of Canada. During this time I completed several pencil sketches, plus took photographs and video of the environment for a new series of artwork.

December and the New Year was a great time to spend with family, create new art, and look up old friends.

In April, I travelled to Melbourne as one of the speakers at the Creative Cities Forum. It’s always interesting to see the politics of art in other countries – there were no aboriginal speakers. Australians often see New Zealanders as their little brothers. That's a problem for them because it is apparent they see the rest of the world as their big brothers, which becomes their strength and their weakness (it’s not the size of your head – it's the expansiveness of your thinking, that counts).

I travelled on to Tokyo, to visit my son James, and to see a different culture. This is my third visit to Japan. It’s a wonderful, exciting country and you immediately become aware of its deep tradition, combined with practical systems that enable such a vast number of people to live an orderly life. Design, fashion and contemporary artist works are must-sees.

I’m working on a new series of paintings, sculpture, jewellery and writing, which I’m very excited about, as they are some of my best. I will gift one painting to the city of Nishio, where my good friend Shigeki Otaki San is Deputy Mayor. This will hang in their new building due to open in July.

I’m also working hard with my brother Garry, John Dow, and assistants on Maori Market 2009, due to open on April 23 2009 in Wellington. This is a must see event for visitors from around the world. It will feature the best of what’s happening in the contemporary Maori art movement. The event in 2007 sold over a million dollars worth of art. Maori Market 2009 will easily eclipse that, as visitors become more aware that they can meet the artists and buy directly from them.

With aroha – Darcy