Curated by Anonymouz (Faiumu Matthew Salapu)
28 July – 1 September
Opening: Friday 27 July, 5.30pm
Join us for the opening night, featuring short performances from Sistema Aotearoa, Soakai Malamala and Sonatane Kaufusi.
From photography and archives to music and video content, this exhibition showcases the rich history of the Ōtara Music Arts Centre over the past 30 years, featuring a special tribute to the Fuemana family and their contribution to OMAC. There is also a focus on OMAC’s future – and what the next 30 years might look like, with a examples of emerging talent coming through OMAC such as Stand Up Stand Out and Sistema Aotearoa.
Also on display will be OMAC 30-30, a series of 30 specially commissioned video interviews which give an insight into the OMAC story, produced by Anonymouz. During the making of this video work he has discovered some rare material that’s never been seen before. On loan from various personal archives and collections, a selection of these exclusive items will also be on display.
OMAC 30 – SUSTAIN THE WAIRUA exhibition is part of a wider programme to celebrate 30 years of music at OMAC. In 1988, Otara Music Arts Centre opened as a new community arts centre with rehearsal rooms, performance hall and a recording studio in Ōtara. The impetus for the new centre came from local community members wanting a place to develop and express local talent and a desire to create positive change to address tensions in the community.
Over the past thirty years, OMAC’s influence has extended to the many artists that have tutored, mentored, rehearsed, recorded or hung out at the centre, such as: OMC, Phil Fuemana, David Dallas, Adeaze, Scribe, Savage, Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E, Dei Hamo, King Kapisi, Fiji, Three Houses Down, Annie Crummer, Vince Harder, Anonymouz, Awanui Reeder, D-Faction the Proud and UPR artists, Cydel and the Groovehouse, GiantKilla, Rosita Vai, Sammy J, Brandon Haru, MeloDownz, SFT, Swiss, Lapi Mariner, Nat Rose, Ria, Ermehn, La Coco, Tha Movement amongst many others.
Exhibition dates: 28 July – 1 September
FREE PUBLIC PROGRAMMES
Beatmaking workshop with SFT: Wednesday 15 August, 3.30 - 5pm
Learn the basics of beat making and finger drumming from producer SFT (for ages 12+)
DJ workshop: Saturday 25 August, 10am – 12.30pm
Enjoy a demo from DJ Exile, try out basic DJ techniques and have a go in the open mic session
