Free talk 31 May: Artists in Antarctica

Join us for a free artist talk and discover Antarctica’s power of creative inspiration with special guest artists: Anne NobleJohn WalshChris OrsmanMargaret ElliotJason O’Hara and Patrick Shepherd.

Event details:

Āhea | When – Friday 31 May, 6pm-7:30pm
Ki hea | Where –
Newtown Community Centre, Theatre
Te utu | Cost – Free
Facebook Event

Artists in Antarctica explores the transformation that happens when artists visit the vast, challenging, and chilling landscapes of Antarctica. This book brings together the creatives of Aotearoa New Zealand who have been to the ice, and the impact this experience has had on their art and their creative process. Hear how the physical challenges of working in this harsh and extreme environment can uniquely harness and capture the creative imagination.

This talk will be hosted by artist and author Patrick Shepherd. Artists in Antarctica is published by Massey University Press.

Free, all welcome. Seating is on a first come, first served basis. Please arrive early to avoid disappointment. This talk will be located in the Theatre of the Newtown Community Centre. Newtown Community Centre is located on the corner of Rintoul St and Colombo St, Newtown.

 

Artists in Antarctica
“What transformation happens when writers, musicians and artists stand in the vast, cold spaces of Antarctica? This book brings together paintings, photographs, texts and musical scores by Aotearoa New Zealand artists who have been to the ice. It explores the impact of this experience on their art and art process, as well as the physical challenges of working in a harsh and unfamiliar environment. Antarctic science, nature and human history are explored through the creative lens of some of New Zealand’s most acclaimed artists, composers and writers, including Laurence Aberhart, Nigel Brown, Gareth Farr, Dick Frizzell, Anne Noble, Virginia King, Owen Marshall, Grahame Sydney, Ronnie van Hout and Phil Dadson.” (Catalogue)

New Zealand Music Month at Wellington City Libraries

It’s New Zealand Music Month we’ve planned a few community performances at the Johnsonville, Tawa and Te Awe Libraries to help celebrate local music — find links to each event on Facebook below. Nau mai rā tātou katoa – everybody is welcome!

Community Performances at Te Awe Library


Tāmira Pūoro – Saturday, 11 May 2024, 3 – 4pm
For New Zealand Music Month Te Awe Library will be hosting a special performance by Tāmira Pūoro, featuring the taonga pūoro and vocals of Ruby Solly, alongside Orchestra Wellington’s principal harpist, Michelle Velvin.

 

Community Performances at Tawa Library


Testore Jazz Trio – Saturday, 4 May 2024, 11 – 11:30am
Testore Trio is a jazz trio that also likes to squeeze a few Neapolitan (Italian) tunes into its repertoire to mix things up a little. The line-up is Richard Prowse – violin, Daryl Prowse – guitar and George Prowse – six string bass.

 

 

Prog Folk with Patrick and Bradley – Saturday, 11 May 2024, 11 – 11:30am
Hear a combo of original numbers and covers of eclectic folk/prog tunes from the 1960s and ‘70s as well as some originals. Featuring acoustic and electric guitars, mandolin, flute and voice.

 

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Magazines free to borrow, 10 – 28 May

In a special offer:  from 10 – 28 May, you will be able to borrow magazines free of charge!

Free magazine rentals! 10-28 May. Browse our full collection on our catalogue. Pictured are three of our many titles -- Harper's Bazaar, North & South and The New Yorker

Wellington City Libraries has over 500 magazine titles for you to borrow.  From Mother Jones to Forbes to Quiltmania to NZV8 – our collections cover a huge range of subjects and styles.  We have four varieties of Vogue and seven titles on model making!

Not forgetting the fascinating back-runs of some classic magazines that we care for at our Off-site Storage site.  If you want to relive New Zealand from years past, Dish magazine has foodie trends since the earliest days of MKR, and Wilderness magazine is literally a walk in the park.  We also have constant favourites, like National Geographic, New Zealand Geographic, Time, Rolling Stone and The Economist.

Seek a new point of view, try a new hobby, or look back in time to how the world used to be.  You’ll be surprised at what we have!  If you are looking for a magazine on our catalogue but you don’t find what you are looking for, just ask one of our staff, and they will help you.

  • This free offer applies to loans and renewals made from 10 – 28 May at any of our branches or online.
  • Any loans or renewals outside of this period will be charged the usual 50c.
  • Magazines are borrowed for 7 days.
  • Reserves are free, but there is a $2 fee if you don’t collect your reserve items.
  • For more information, please contact your local library or email us at enquiries@wcl.govt.nz

WCL eBook Club celebrates ComicFest 2024

The Observologist on Libby

One of the most popular non-fiction books recently is The Observologist by artist and writer Giselle Clarkson, a captivating book that has quickly become a firm favourite of children and adults alike. It has continued to be featured in bestseller lists, both here and abroad, since its release and is one of our most heavily borrowed and reserved titles here at the library.

Giselle Clarkson is coincidently one of the many guests taking part in our celebration of all things comic and graphic related, the extravaganza that is ComicFest 2024! For full details and to reserve your spot at any of the free ComicFest events, including a live panel with The Observologist creator Giselle Clarkson, visit our ComicFest website here.

To celebrate both the book and ComicFest 2024, we are offering access to an unlimited number of downloads of The Observologist as our eBook club pick of the month on Libby, available May 2 – 15.

For free and without any waiting.

Download your copy here through Libby – The Observologist on Libby

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Te Tiriti: Te Whanganui-a-Tara, 29 April 1840

Te Tiriti books pictured against a backdrop of Te Whanganui-a-Tara

184 years ago, in early April 1840, Henry Williams arrived at Te Whanganui-a-Tara aboard the Ariel with sheet 8 of Te Tiriti to be signed by mana whenua. It took him 10 days to convince 34 Rangatira at ‘Port Nicholson’ to add their marks/signatures to the document.

Here are listed eight of the Rangatira and signatories who resided at Pipitea Pā: Te Rira Porutu, Tamati Te Matoha (Napuna), Wi Kingi Wairarapa, Te Ropiha Moturoa, Takata Ingo, Hohepa Kopiri, Reihana Reweti/Te Kamo, Te Kahu/Hone Te Iwikau/Matoha).

Te Wharepouri and Rawiri Matangi resided at Ngauranga; Ngatata-i-te-rangi at Kumutoto; Taringakuri, Te Whakakeko, Hore Pakihi – probably at Kaiwharawhara; Honiana Te Puni, Kopeka (Te Puni’s uncle), Rerewha-i-te-rangi (father of Honiana Te Puni), Pamariki Paaka at Pito One; Te Puakawe and Hirini Te Tute at Waiwhetū.

Eight or more local Rangatira eventually signed Sheet no. 8 at Queen Charlotte Sound and Manawatū. Te Manu Toheroa and Tu-te-rangi-pouri of Queen Charlotte Sound had close whānau links to Pipitea and Waiwhetū and Ngakirikiri was also closely associated with Waiwhetū Pā.

Wi Hape Pakau (Pipitea and Waiwhetū) signed the sheet at Manawatū.

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Win tickets to local family film ‘The Mountain’, in cinemas now

From the Producers of Hunt for the Wilderpeople & Jojo Rabbit and directed by Rachel House, ‘The Mountain’ is a heartfelt drama about three children on a mission to find healing under the watchful eye of Taranaki Maunga, and discover friendship in the spirit of adventure. A childhood cancer narrative is explored in this film, so we encourage you to view gently, especially for those with childhood cancer stories close to their hearts.

The Mountain is now showing at these cinema locations.

Win double passes to The Mountain over on our Facebook page.