10 Dec 2025
For ages 12-17 two day workshop creating a soft sculpture squid, 17th and 18th December 10:30-2:30 $25 a day or $40 for the two days. Please email manager@artcentrehelensville.org.nz, enrolment is due by 13th December.
As part of our afterschool teen class we have been embarking on 'projects' inspired by a variety of artists and methods. My vision for extending the groups creative practice to outdoors, is to create a safe space where our rangatahi can hang out and have artwork displayed instilling pride in our youth for projects they have worked on.
Our 'soft squid' sculpture draws on Māori Myth 'Kupe and the Giant Wheke', Kupe ventured out to into the Pacific Ocean in hunt for the Wheke, seeing a 'long cloud' in the distance where there was land, Hine-te-Aparangi named the land Aotearoa, Land of the Long White Cloud. Kupe finally defeated Te Wheke o Muturangi who lead them to the new land Aotearoa.
We also draw reference to Te Papa's Te Ngū Tipua 'The Colossal squid', which is on display in their nature exhibition as the largest colossal squid exhibited in the world. New Zealanders left Timaru in 2006 to the Ross Sea in which New Zealand is Kaitiaki (guardian) of the waters, and returned with the colossal squid which was then frozen and sent to Te Papa.
Thanks to Te Papa's online resources, we have printed out activity books for any tamariki who would like to pick up a copy, or have fun doing the activity book. pukapuka mahi, at the Art Centre!