Lei Aloha
LEI Aloha Project
Various Locations, 2017, ongoing
Layne Waerea’s Graduation, Pati Solomona Tyrell’s Exhibition, Melanie Rands’ Poetry Launch, John Vea’s exhibition opening, lei-pā exhibition opening.
The moment of a lei (garland) being placed over your head is like entering a portal, everything that went into making this lei, the conversation, the transference of energy, the working hands, its a powerful thing. From there as the wearer you are framed and contextualised by this lei portal until you take it off.
The women of D.A.N.C.E. art club (Tuafale Tanoai aka Linda T., Vaimaila Urale and Ahilapalapa Rands) began lei making together as a way of showing support to others in the community. Ahilapalapa had just returned to Aotearoa (New Zealand) from Hawaii and lei had featured heavily during her three months in Oahu and from teachings with her Aunty on Big Island. So far we use ribbon from dollar stores around Avondale in part because of difficulty accessing the foliage in Tāmaki (Auckland) but also because it allows for ambitious colour combinations and playing around with scale. There is nothing like a fresh lei but there are things to be said for other more permanent materials, for one they can cross biosecurity borders and make good makana (gifts) for visiting friends and family. We like to make lei for people as the woman of DAC when and where we can but it was inspired by and began with wanting to surprise artist Pati Solomona Tyrell and his wider team on the final tonoai (closing feast) of his solo show Fāgogo at ST Paul St gallery.
After 10 years of working as DAC we like to prioritise spending time together. Lei making suits this perfectly, as objects and part of rituals that are so special. It’s almost like feeling naked without one.
John Vea
Concrete is as Concrete doesn’t
20 July 2017
Layne Waerea
Doctoral Graduation, Auckland
28th July 2017
Pati Tyrell-Solomona
Fagogo exhibition clothing, St Paul Street Galley
22 July 2017
WoDAC lei making session July 2017
Melanie Rands
A Transpacific Poetics: Book Launch, Gus Fisher Gallery
27th July 2017
Lei Pā Exhibition Opening, St Paul St Gallery
3 August 2017