With mind-nourishing art installations, exhibitions and walking tours popping up in the city centre this Art Week, expect a burst of feel-good hormones lifting your soul.
The theme for Art Week 2024 is happiness, so smiles are set to fill the city centre’s galleries, streets, lanes and spaces this October in a celebration of all things art.
Art Week is delivered by Heart of the City and is proudly supported by Auckland Council and the city centre targeted rate.
For the full programme visit heartofthecity.co.nz/artweek
To get started, here’s a ten-day diary of suggestions:
Random Acts by Shannon Novak; photo by Jasper Johnstone.
Day one: 4 October - Random Acts
Te Ara I Whiti - The Lightpath glows with touches of kindness this Art Week.
Artist Shannon Novak has teamed up with iion, programming the lights to change from magenta to a colourful display in response to the movement of people along the path. As people pass each other the colours merge and intensify, expressing positivity as people connect. This artwork has been commissioned by Auckland Council. It shines with movement, colour and light from 7.30pm to 6.30am every day from 4 to 13 October.
Adding to the light effects, actual random acts of kindness will be shared with people along Te Ara I Whiti - The Lightpath and in city centre streets and spaces in an evening of art and mindfulness during Late Night Art on Thursday 10 October between 5pm and 9pm.
Learn more about Random Acts here.
RIPPLE - A Light Memory of a lost Shoreline by Catherine Ellis and Angus Muir in Exchange Lane.
Day two: 5 October – Changing Lanes
Changing Lanes is a glittering centrepiece of Art Week. Tasked with transforming some of the inner city’s iconic laneways, artists have created public artworks for these characterful spaces. Drawing on sculpture, painting, design and digital practices the artists have responded to the theme happiness. Pursuing big, bold and immersive ideas, this collection of art is intended to alter our experience of familiar places, prompt us to look with fresh eyes and see our city giving us a new reason to play, explore and discover.
You will find the Changing Lanes installations across Bledisloe Lane, Darby Street, Vulcan Lane, Durham Street East, Little High Street, Jean Batten Place, Lorne Street, Elliott Street and Exchange Lane; brought to the city centre by Auckland Council with curator Ross Liew.
Learn more about the city’s historic laneways here.
Day three: 6 October – Viaduct Harbour – BLOOM
A larger-than-life vase of flowers, BLOOM is set to instil wonder and joy as people meander through the Viaduct in Art Week. This art installation by Angus Muir and Harris Keenan will be seen and heard. Listen to a soundscape by Arun Strickland, while you see bright, vivid colours and neon design elements that radiate an ‘electric kaleidoscope of untamed beauty.’
Day four: 7 October – Freyberg Steps
Despite the fast pace of urban life, Pink Blossoming Spring at Freyberg Steps offers a moment of peace amidst the hustle and bustle. Missed the blossoms this spring? No worries - come to the inner city and enjoy an everlasting springtime!
Full Spectrum; photo credit Auckland Live.
Day five: 8 October – Aotea Square
Auckland Live presents Spring in Aotea Square from 28 September until 13 October. Head down and join a variety of FREE creative fun for the kids (and the big kids). These school holidays show off some moves to your favourite tunes on our Dance-O-Mat, and get involved in our dance workshops from K-Pop to Line Dancing to Bollywood and more.
Make sure you get a stunning selfie for your social media feed with Full Spectrum, our captivating rainbow sculpture, and witness the glorious Late Night Art – including Late Night Latin Dancing – across the city.
Day six: 9 October – free guided walking tours
Explore diverse forms of art and creative expression on free guided walking tours throughout the city centre. Here’s a taste.
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Unlocked Collections - discover the incredible art that is usually hidden away behind closed doors, or in areas you have not noticed in the city’s hotels, institutions and public buildings.
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City Art Walks - walk with heritage and conservation architect Kent Dadson and uncover the Classical world, all the intricacies of the form, function and style, that continue to be expressed in the buildings of the central city. There are two tours taking place, October 6 and 13, from 3-5pm. Bookings essential.
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The art on the walls of a city become part of its fabric, framing as well as reflecting its character. Poster-Art icon and Master of Design Eleanor Whyle will open your eyes to street art both new and old, commissioned and not, on this back-street tour of the inner city.
Head to heartofthecity.co.nz/artweek for details.
Day seven: 10 October – LATE NIGHT ART
Late Night Art’s 2024 line-up of art, innovation, colour, music, lighting, markets, exhibitions, laser art and dance lessons on offer might feel overwhelming, so here’s your checklist:
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Open Late at EMC
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Late Night Art in Freyberg
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Freyberg Steps
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Khartoum After Dark
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Urban Art Village – O’Connell Street
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Jazz on Vulcan
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Late Night Art on High (art market – 20+ stalls, roaming performers, skaters and actual Random Acts)
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Galleries open late
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Lighting installations: Te Ha o Hine Place, Freyberg Place, Deloitte’s Building, Viaduct, Darby St lampposts, Aotea Square, Exchange Lane
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Britomart – performance
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The midtown Street Art Festival
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Aotea Square (Lighting ‘Full Spectrum’ and Dance-O Mat by GapFiller with Latin Dancing)
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Viaduct – lighting (Angus Muir & Harris Keenan – Bloom) and performance
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Commercial Bay – lighting Ngā Huinga o Mataaoho – The Gathered Volcanoes of Mataaoho
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Changing Lanes
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Guided Walks – Unlocked Collections and City Art Walks
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Exhibitions – Maritime Museum, Central City Library, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki, Gow Langsford, Gus Fisher, Kura Gallery, Fingers 50-year celebration and SO/ Auckland Hotel
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Exchange Lane Rave - with laser art and an explosion of music. Groove with All my Friends (AMF) favourites Tyrun and RNG-sus, along with special guests, as they take over Exchange Lane. Together with Angus Muir Design and Cat Ellis, laser artist, we’re bringing an explosion of colour and music to the city’s heart.
Day eight: 11 October – Kura Gallery Urban Māori Exhibition
Kura Gallery is opening up to all kai mahi toi Māori to contribute to a show looking at the term “Urban Māori”.” The term is provocative and significant for ngā iwi Māori, the majority of whom live away from their papa kāinga, or ancestral lands. The reasons are layered.
The kaupapa is broad and left entirely up to the artists’ interpretation of what the term means to them, which should make for an exciting and fresh exhibition from artists from across the motu, some of whom are already represented in the gallery.
The show will hang in the gallery for Art Week, with a late night kōrerō about the works with the curator on 10 October for Late Night Art.
Day nine: 12 October – Silo Park for the family
Open to all ages, come along to Sonic Playground at the iconic Silo 6 in the Wynyard Quarter from midday to 4pm and explore the unique acoustics of the space. Curated by the Audio Foundation, there will be a playful feast of sonic experiences, with a rolling programme of improvisations, drawing from the rich scene of sound art and alternative music in Tāmaki Makaurau. Supported by Eke Panuku, it’s part of a series of Art Week events at Silo 6, beginning with Drawing Playground on 5 October, 11am-3pm.
Where do the children play? Explore more in Wynyard Quarter here.
Artist Dr Bobby Hung.
Day ten: 13 October - midtown’s Street Art Festival
Murals, street art, graffiti, workshops and talks are coming to midtown for Art Week and beyond. Watch or take part in live painting and a battle of graffiti writers hosted by Dr Bobby Hung in the historic Strand Arcade. A highlight will be Wellington-based adventurist and interventionist Cameron Hunt who fluidly shifts between painting, photography, sculpture, installation, performance and videography, often wrangling a sense of chaotic, playful energy from each distinct form. Brought to midtown by Auckland Council.
For all dates, times and venues visit heartofthecity.co.nz/artweek
