Making connections

Art and Design kaiako at WITT Te Pūkenga have always fostered connections with fellow tutors around New Zealand but they don’t often get the opportunity to exhibit their work together.

“Our teaching team was delighted to be invited by colleagues from Whitireia and WelTec in Wellington to contribute to a kaimahi exhibition at Te Auaha Gallery showing our collaboration as creatives,” says WITT Te Pūkenga Art and Design Lead Ged Guy.

The exhibition was part of a wider initiative called E/Merge which is an annual showcase of Wellington ākonga creative and performing arts.

“The kaimahi exhibition preceded the festival of ākonga work and together contributed to a really special showcase of art and design,” says Ged.

Weltec’s Lecturer, Creative Technologies Deidra Sullivan curated the exhibition at Te Auaha Gallery and commented on how good all the works looked together and says it made for a really diverse and interesting experience.

Taranaki art and design tutors Mark Raymer, Philippa Berry Smith and Ged Guy contributed five works between them to the exhibition including prints and paintings.

“It’s always satisfying to show ākonga and the community that we are also exhibiting artists, active in the industry, and this was particularly special to exhibit alongside our teaching peers,” says Ged.

Connections are being made across the motu as WITT joins the country's other polytechnics and work based learning organisations to become Te Pūkenga – New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology. 

“It’s fantastic to see the benefits of being one network play out and our talented art and design tutors work together on this exhibition,” says Te Pūkenga Tumu Whenua ā-Rohe 3 | Executive Director, Region 3 Mark Oldershaw.

E/Merge is now an established event on the Wellington arts calendar and we are confident that it will continue to grow and provide more opportunities for Te Pūkenga ākonga and kaimahi.