Under The Stars, A Matariki Exhibition

Calling all Rotorua-based artists

To celebrate Matariki, we are once again filling the whole of Wallis Gallery and the Mosaic hall with your artwork. We need work about Matariki and what it means for you. Whether it’s a painting reflecting on your past year, a loved one that has passed on, what you see for your future, or even your own representation of the stars and story of Matariki.

Matariki is considered the Māori New Year, a time to reflect and be thankful. Its name is a shortened form of Ngā Mata o te Ariki Tāwhirimātea (the eyes of the god Tāwhirimātea), as Tāwhirimātea was so enraged by his parents, Papatūānuku and Ranginui, being separated that he tore out his eyes and threw them to the sky. This formed the constellation Matariki, or the Pleiades. The story varies within iwi, but the commonly accepted version includes 9 stars, with the largest star, Matariki, being the mother and guardian of her 8 daughters.

This exhibition is open to all Rotorua-based artists, amateur or professional, to submit their artworks about Matariki. Huge thanks to our funders, Rotorua Trust and Te Puni Kōkiri.

Artworks must be registered and delivered by the 29th/30th of June and the opening event will be held on Saturday the 8th of July with more details to come!

Check out our website for the entry form and all other details! https://artsvillage.org.nz/matariki