Collage Your Mother’s Day Card – Free Event
World Collage Day is just around the corner, falling on Saturday, May 13 this year. I usually celebrate it by organizing a community collage creation. Last year’s Avondale’s community collage, with the kind support of Whau the People, is proudly displayed at the Avondale Library, while the Titirangi community collage from two years ago is on exhibit at the Titirangi Community House. This year, since World Collage Day coincides with Mother’s Day weekend, I am thrilled to collaborate with Upstairs Gallery at Lopdell House, offering a free event: “Collage Your Mother’s Day Card.”
Mothers hold a special place in our hearts, and what better way to show appreciation than by gifting a unique, handmade card?
All are welcome to join us any time between 2 and 4 pm. We will provide all materials needed to create a personalized card from upcycled magazines and books onto coloured bristol cards. Additionally, you are welcome to bring your own images from home to add a personal touch. No need to sign up; see you there!
April 24, 2023
International Women’s Day | Art Journals
To celebrate International Women’s Day coming up soon, I am offering two newly printed art journals – Justice (Ruth Bader Ginsburg) and Smash the Patriarchy (the OG wonderwoman) on my online shop. These are luxurious art journals, suitable for writing and drawing, with 120 blank pages of an uncoated art paper stock, 80 GSM.
Size 180×240 mm.
Click here to order yours
February 22, 2023
Sitting Bull Collage Commission
A commission I have been working on in the last few weeks.
Paper collage on wood, 45 cm diameter.
February 2, 2023
Collage Your Xmas Cards at Grey Lynn Library & Studio One Toi Tū
Two Collage your Xmas Cards events are coming up this week: Tomorrow, Tuesday, 13 Dec at Grey Lynn Library, pop in anytime between 2 and 5pm. And on Thursday 15 Dec, Studio One Toi Tū 238 Krd, pop in anytime between 5 and 8 pm. Both events are kindly supported by Studio One Toi Tū and are free. Suitable for all ages. Make a unique and personalized card for your loved ones this Xmas from upcycled materials.
December 12, 2022
Merata Mita Collage Showing at Studio One Toi Tū Sidewalk Gallery
My collage of Merata Mita is now on display at the Sidewalk Gallery at Studio One Toi Tu, Ponsonby, Auckland.
She’s there for the next two weeks; pop over anytime, day or night.
Meet the artist on Saturday 8 Oct 1-3 pm. I would love to see you there.
Artist Statment: The work of pioneering filmmaker Merata Mita is pivotal to a global movement of Indigenous cinematography and marks a significant chapter in Aotearoa’s history. Mita was the first filmmaker to reflect a Māori identity on screen. She also contributed to mana wahine by discussing Māori women’s position in the arts in New Zealand. Her work has influenced indigenous filmmakers worldwide.
After viewing the documentary, “Merata, How Mum Decolonized The Screen,” I felt touched and inspired by her story and wanted to shine more light on her lifework and legacy.
This work is my tribute to and celebration of Mita. She is placed in the space between Papatūānuku, and Ranginui, surrounded by indigenous art from Aotearoa, the Pacific, and America, projecting her vision for indigenous filmography.
As I created this collage from hundreds of paper cuttings, I reflected on Merata as a Warrior, Activist, Feminist, Filmmaker, and Mother, her courage, and her ahead-of-her-time vision.
Many thanks for the vital advice from Kathryn Graham and the kind support from Hepi Mita.
October 4, 2022
Warrior Women group exhibition opening at the Upstairs Gallery
Thank you to everyone who made it to the Warrior Women exhibition opening. Thank you to my fellow artists for your inspiring creations, and a massive thanks to Sammy, The Upstairs Gallery’s director, and curator, for being the vision and the force behind this project.
The exhibition is on till Aug 21, and there is also a sale of fantastic artists’ merch in the gallery.
Upstairs Gallery, Lopdell House, Titirangi.
Gallery hours: Tues-Sun 10am to 4pm
August 1, 2022
Merata Mita Collage Showing at Warrior Women’ exhibition, Upstairs Gallery
I’m delighted to have been invited to join this group exhibition at the Upstairs Gallery, Lopdell House, Titirangi. As many of you know, I’m passionate about promoting and highlighting powerful and inspirational women. I feel blessed to be working with such an impressive lineup of talent!
Come and join us for this fantastic exhibition and celebration of Warrior Women!
WARRIOR WOMEN – OPENS 29 JULY 2022 – 6PM.
One of the collages selected for this exhibition is my recent large circular collage of Merata Mita.
This is my latest collage, which I have been working on for the last couple of years. It was deeply inspired by an excellent documentary about her, “Mereta, How Mum Decolonised The Screen”, which I watched many times (it’s on Netflix!).
When I was invited to participate in the Warrior Women exhibition, I knew she had to be part of it.
The exhibition is up till 21 August at The Upstairs Gallery, Titirangi.
I would never accomplished this without the vital advice and support from Kathryn Graham – thank you heaps!
And a massive thank you to Hepi Mita for his kind support.
July 24, 2022
School Holiday Children’s Collage Workshops
School Holiday News: Children’s Collage Workshops are coming up next week at the @upstairsart gallery, Titirangi.
I’ll be running three one-day children’s workshops for children aged 7 to 17.
The children will create their very own self-portraits with paper collage.
WHERE: Upstairs Gallery, Lopdell House, Titirangi.
WHEN: Choose a day: Tuesday 19 July, Wednesday 20 July or Thursday 21 July
TIME: 10:30am – 1:30pm
COST: $10 per child
Hours of Fun !!!!
Spaces are limited, so book now by emailing Sammy gallery@upstairs.org.nz or pop into the gallery.
July 14, 2022
Intuitive Collage Workshop with Manawaka Ao
A collaboration with Manawaka Ao, A kick-arse women of colour network in Aotearoa. Manawaka Ao mission is to strengthen collaboration and authentic engagement of women across our ethnic communities of colour, and with Tangata Whenua with Mana.
We had 2 one-day collage workshops, in Manawaka Ao’s words: “As women of colour, holding space together, sharing how our whakapapa lines came to be here in Aotearoa. Shared histories and stories that cross over and connect and connect to the Whenua (land) here and far away. Sitting in the bodies of our ancestors and knowing that the impossible is possible. ”
July 13, 2022
Collaboration with Manawaka Ao
Coming up in June: a collaboration with Manawaka Ao, a network of kick-arse women of colour in Aotearoa. Two collage workshops will take place in Avondale, or you can also join us on Zoom if you cannot make it in person. These sessions are about self-nourishment, free-flow creativity, and connection in a safe space. Thanks to the wonderful Ara Manawaka Ao, this workshop is offered at a reduced cost. No experience is needed, and all materials are provided. So treat yourself to a Sunday of soul care. Places are limited – be quick. 2 dates to choose from: Sunday 19th June and Sunday 26th June – 10am to 2pm. For enrollments click on this link https://bit.ly/3t7wPiR .
May 31, 2022
Whau Community Collage
Bring your whānau along to celebrate World Collage Day by creating a community collage together!
I am hosting an all-day workshop, inviting the community to co-create a large collage, reflecting and celebrating the Whau and its rich cultural fabric. The large collage made together will then be on display in a public space in the Whau!
All materials supplied. All ages are welcome.
Exhibition of Collage will be on show at the same time showing work by Naomi Azoulay, Linda Anne Dixon, and Skye Kelly.
Kindly supported by Whau the People ❤️
May 9, 2022
World Collage Day 2022 collab Whau The People
I have partnered with Whau the People to celebrate World Collage Day with a community collage event.
Everyone is welcome to co-create a large collage piece, celebrating the Whau and its people.
Saturday 14th May 2022 at ALL GOODS, 99 Rosbank Road, Avondale (behind the library)
Pop in anytime between 11 am to 4 pm and leave your mark.
Free event, everyone is welcome, and all materials are provided.
See you there!
REDUCING WASTE, ENCOURAGING CREATIVITY, AND BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER.
April 23, 2022
Sunday Girl at Corban Estate Art Centre
Sunday Girl, a pop-up exhibition at Corban Estate Art Centre. A massive thank you to the curator Leela Bhai and to everyone who came along. This is my piece: ‘a woman's work is never done’, please zoom in for the details!
From the program: ” This all-female group show is a platform for expressing and sharing a woman’s worldview as we operate our multi-tasking layered lives as daughters, sisters, mothers, partners, thinkers, givers, workers, and creatives.
25 diverse artists will be celebrated – it is a spotlight on the female artist and a challenge to the bias that exists in the commercial art world.
Curated by Leela Bhai, this annual exhibition will consist of established, experimental and unexpected artists, all encouraged to exhibit under a pseudonym. Artist names vary from poignant symbolism, personal anecdotes, or just plain silliness, with the tales of their origin often shared on opening night. Each piece may represent a past self, vision of a future self, or a particular thought pattern from half an hour ago and the wide range of mediums reflect the diverse range of women participating in the show.”
April 22, 2022
Paintings Exhibition at ALL GOODS. Whau Art Festival
Thank you to everyone who came to the exhibition at @_all.goods this weekend, it was so nice to see so many friendly faces. A massive thank you to Whau the People for being so supportive and generally awesome. The Whau Art Festival is over now but this exhibition will stay up for a while longer. Photographs from Abhi Chinniah and from spdrtwngirl, drawings from Ladybug, and oil paintings from me. 99 Rosebank Rd, Avondale.
April 6, 2022
Whau Art Festival
The 8th Whau Art festival is starting tomorrow with plenty of cool events in Avondale and neighbouring suburbs.
I’ll be taking part in a group exhibition alongside Abhi Chinniah, Ladybug, and spdrtwnbby at ALL GOODS, 99 Rosebank Rd (by Avondale Library carpark).
ALL GOODS will be open throughout the Festival; from Thursday 31 March to Sunday 3 April, 11 am to 4 pm.
This is one of my oil paintings from this exhibition, of the singer and songwriter Cesária Évora.
Size: H760 x W1010 x 35 mm.
March 30, 2022
Space Studio & Gallery Showcase
Space Studio & Gallery in Whanganui is showcasing my work this week.
Check out their website for a selection of originals and prints
https://spacestudiogallery.co.nz/exhibition/naomi-azoulay/
September 16, 2021
My First Collage
This is the first collage I ever created. It was made in a 1-day collage workshop in Colville about 10 years ago. At the time I was getting over a relationship break-up. The workshop was a random form of self-care during a difficult and emotional time. As you might know, I caught the bug and haven’t stopped collaging since then. I started with cutting up old magazines and glueing them onto cardboard but very quickly I got into my collection of art books and glued them onto wood panels. I received lots of encouragement and support from the community around me ( Coromandel you are forever in my heart ! ). A decade later, I’m running collage workshops for a living. I get a real kick watching other people collaging. Each of us is so unique, and so are the collages we make. The more I do this, the more I discover how powerful and versatile collage is.
August 23, 2021