This is a shared arts column space put together by the Howick Historical Village, Te Tuhi, and Uxbridge Arts and Culture.
Are you up for something creative to do this weekend?
There’s no need to travel far: East Auckland is bustling with public art that you can visit for free.
We thought it’d be fun to wrap this up into an “art trail” that you can embark on with your family and friends. Excited? Let’s begin!
The starting point of our art trail is Te Tuhi art gallery in Pakuranga, where you can have some fun playing with hacky sacks from Bena Jackson’s exhibition Urban Legend.
While you’re at Te Tuhi we recommend you try Deb’s world-famous cheese scones at Te Tuhi’s training café for people with intellectual disabilities.
Our art tour continues at Lloyd Elsmore Park, where you can find a Bike Hub mural “with a local twist”.
Crafted by Elliot Francis Stewart, the artwork features local landmarks and symbols that celebrate our community spirit.
Another stop on our art trail is 61 Picton Street, at the back of Howick Jewellers, where you can admire the Matariki designs by artist Chantel Matthews and tamariki from Owairoa and Mellons Bay Schools.
While you’re in Howick, drop in to Uxbridge Arts and Culture where you can see EAA18: Estuary Art and Ecology Award 2024 in the Malcolm Smith Gallery.
To continue your art journey, go to Botany Town Centre where you can find a series of portraits titled Tales of our Wāhine in front of H&M, and Liberty Herekoretanga, a giant chandelier made of recycled plastic camellias by Wendy Hannah hanging in the pavilion outside Glassons.
Let’s finish off our journey at Mission Heights Schools, where their public bike track information board features students’ drawings of birds and plant life.
We hope you’ll enjoy this little tour. Keep an eye out for more at www.artsouteast.org.nz, Te Tuhi’s community arts brokering programme, and www.tetuhi.art.
See you around east Auckland!
