Pacific art workshops open to local children

The workshops, free of charge and open to children of all ages, will teach skills of South Pacific arts and crafts. They take place at the Museum of Archaeology & Anthropology, Downing Street, Cambridge, from 2pm to 4pm and promise an unusual and exciting afternoon. The whole family is welcome to take part.

The event heralds a major two-year exhibition ‘Pasifika Styles’ about the beautiful and vibrant contemporary art of the Pacific, which is currently enjoying a high profile in the art world. Exhibitions of Pacific arts are also being held over the coming months at the Hayward Gallery, London, and at the Sainsbury Centre at the University of East Anglia.

‘Pasifika Styles’ opens on May 6 at the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology at the University of Cambridge, whose Pacific collections are rivalled only by those of the British Museum. Many artefacts were collected on the voyages of Captain Cook. Twenty contemporary artists will come specially to the UK from the Pacific region for the exhibition.

For the workshops, Ani O'Neill, from the Cook Islands, (detail of her work 'Rainbow Country 2000' pictured) will teach techniques such as binding, threading, plaiting, weaving and stitching, to make star-shaped sculptures from a variety of found, recycled and natural materials. Participants will help make a site-specific installation in the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology for the ‘Pasifika Styles’ exhibition, in which their stars will be suspended from the ceiling of the Museum for the next two years.

Reuben Paterson, a top Maori artist, will explain the background and meanings of kowhaiwhai (painted rafter patterns), as well as introduce his own artworks. Workshop participants will then use kowhaiwhai shaped sponges and glitter to create their own pieces.

‘Pasifika Styles’ is supported by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, the University of Cambridge, the Leverhulme Trust and the Arts Council England.