Amita Kala

In celebration of our tenth birthday this month, chapter Founder and October speaker, Jade Tang Taylor, shared some of her favourite moments and insights from a decade of CreativeMornings in Tāmaki Makaurau.  

What is a highlight or memorable moment from CreativeMornings?

SOOOO many! Let’s go with three…

1. First CreativeMornings/AKL event I ever hosted (Sep 2011) launched at Aotea Centre with original co-host Elise Sterback, and speakers; Zoe Ikin, Sam Trustum and Clem Devine, with rainbow decorated stairs and also Jacinda Ardern in attendance (who happened to be a regular CM/AKL attendee before she became Prime Minister).

2. The last CreativeMornings/AKL event I ever hosted (Nov 2016) at MOTAT, with co-host, colleague, and friend Kaan Hiini and speaker; Joyce Campbell. Admittedly, it was a bittersweet emotional experience as I was pregnant and announced to the community I would be taking a step back to make room for the new “creative project” in my life, and to welcome new energy to lead the CreativeMornings/AKL community into the future!

CreativeMornings community hands up, with Kaan & Jade on stage!

And 3) The Global CreativeMornings Summit (Aug 2016) in Austin Texas, USA, which I managed to sneak in just before I officially stepped back from the hosting responsibilities. It was an incredible experience to connect with a global like-minded community of generous creatives and chapter hosts from all over the world! I also had an opportunity to take Tina Roth Eisenberg (Founder of CreativeMornings) out for lunch in Brooklyn, New York to pick her brains on all things creative, community, business and #mumlife.

CreativeMornings Summit 2016 video

One of your favourite takeaways from CreativeMornings?

• Food & Beverage takeaways: Midnight Baker Toast, Coffee Supreme & Antipodes Water, all who have been avid supporters of CreativeMornings over the years! TY 🙏
  
• Speaker takeaways: This quote “Where does creative freedom come from?” by Kyra Clarke, beautifully illustrated by recent speaker Kate Hursthouse, which still resonates with me today and sits on a shelf in my home office as a daily reminder.

As part of a postcard/poster series created for CreativeMornings 4th birthday

One of your own highlights in the past 10 years?

Again, SOOOOO many creative highlights… Many of which I’ll share in my upcoming talk. 

That said, I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have been immersed in the creative community, especially through the lens of CreativeMornings. However, my biggest and most life-changing “creative project” to date would be my feisty, independent lil human who is now four years old. And no doubt, that “project” will keep changing and challenging me creatively in a multitude of ways ;)

 Lil Phoenix attending her first CreativeMornings talk

What has changed in Auckland’s (or NZ’s) creative sector in the past 10 (or thereabout)  years?

Hmmm such an interesting question… Admittedly, I feel like I’ve unintentionally moved away from the creative, design and arts sector a little and more recently leaned into a more strategic design practice in the social, public and community sector. 

Upon reflection, from my previous roles working at a large Philanthropic organisation… There’s a sense that less funding is available for the creative/arts sector, and more funding for the social sector. And of course more recently, these financial challenges are exacerbated in times of COVID-19 pandemic in the arts, theatre, events production and wider creative industry.

However, I feel that there’s a real need to bring those two sectors closer together in the future. If we’re ever to solve some of these complex “wicked” problems, we’re going to need new creative ways of working, of doing, and of being.

One thing you’d like to see in the next 10 years?

(Refer to Question 4, and please come join us at the next CreativeMornings/AKL talk!)

You can join Jade at CreativeMornings Auckland ONLINE, Friday 29 October from 7.50pm.  Registration is open here: https://creativemornings.com/talks/jade-tang-taylor💖

“Feeling at home in your city is about feeling like your city is designed with you in mind.” Last month we were joined by Simone Speet, Wayfinding designer at Maynard Design. Simone shared her learnings, what wayfinding is and how it works, the processes she goes through and her idea of home.  View the recording of Simone’s talk and start thinking about the places we live and act a little differently: https://creativemornings.com/talks/simone-speet/ Read this beautiful summary and insights from Simone-Ellen on purposeful work: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/purposeful-work-simone-ellen-keller-/ Follow along with Simone’s journey at Maynard on their instagram: @maynarddesign

CreativeMornings with Ahi Karunaharan
Friday 29th November, 8:00am - 9:30am
Q Theatre

Ahi Karunaharan is an actor, writer and director, with a focus on creating stories that often go untold and amplifying voices that we don’t always hear. “I’m most excited by creatives and practitioners looking to break boxes that they are put into and collaborate with those who don’t get the centre stage often.”

Ahi is a graduate of Victoria University of Wellington and Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School. The winner of the 2018 Bruce Mason Award, Ahi’s writing credits include The Mourning After, Anchorite, The Adventures of Rama, Swabhoomi: Borrowed Earth and Tea which premiered at the Auckland Arts Festival 2018 winning best Overall Production at the Auckland Theatre Awards.

Ahi’s directing credits include Thali for Auckland Fringe Festival, Rudali-The Mourner and Swabhoomi: Borrowed Earth for Prayas Theatre, Should Woulda Coulda for the Here and Now Youth Festival, Northern Glow, First Word Problems and Smoky Quartz Does Turkish for Basement Theatre, A Fine Balance for Auckland Theatre Company, Kollywood Extra for Satellites and Light Vs Dark for for Auckland Live.

“Having been based in Auckland for the last 9 years and watching our creative sector evolve, I’ve been actively growing our South Asian creative community and have learnt the importance of creating our own stories and re-writing our narratives.”

Ahi’s newest work, My Heart Goes Thadak Thadak, is a new major commission by Silo Theatre taking place on the Q Theatre - Rangatira stage from 21 November - 14 December.

Come and join Ahi on the set of My Heart Goes Thadak Thadak at Q Theatre for the last CreativeMornings/Auckland event of 2019. Ahi will be exploring his process of creation while speaking to our global theme, LOST.

CreativeMornings with Adrienne Wong
Friday 27th September, 8:00am - 9:30am
Air New Zealand

“Your muse comes from the deepest parts of your imagination and guides you to new ideas.”

Primarily a painter, Adrienne Wong is intrigued by the juxtaposition of nature and the urban environment and our relationship within it. Locations hold memories and meaning. In her monochromatic paintings and drawings, these locations are devoid of the usual visual cues, suggesting memory and movement within fields of spatial ambiguity.

Adrienne also is a graphic designer and the Executive Director of an in-house communications and brand department. She has an advertising background as an art director and studied visual arts at the University of the Arts London. Her art has been selected for international exhibitions including The Hunting Art Prize, The Lawndale Big Show, and The Celeste Art Prize UK. Her most recent exhibition was a collaboration with Mark Harvey and Artspace Aotearoa at Starkwhite Gallery that acknowledged her family history and early Chinese community on Karangahape Rd, Auckland.

Come and join Adrienne on the 27th of September as she explores the theme MUSE, and the powerful influence of her surroundings.

CreativeMornings with Beth Hill
Friday 30th August, 8:00am - 9:30am
Ockham Collective

The theme for CreativeMornings August is JUSTICE and joining us to speak is Beth Hill, the Programme Leader of Redemption Arts & Education Services at Northland Region Corrections Facility.

To us, creativity is all about self expression, it is a human right. To us, one of the most important places for creativity is in the justice system of Aotearoa.

Beth Hill is originally from the UK, she is the mother of two sons and winner of the 2018 Arts Access Aotearoa Accolade award. Beth has been making art about otherness, radical empathy and her search to find somewhere she fits in for most of her life.

Six years ago, Beth found herself working inside the walls of NRCF where she surprisingly stopped feeling so much of a square peg! Beth and her team offer access to creative spaces and activities that support the cohort on site to develop self esteem, new ways of communicating, soft skills and a passion for the arts.

Facilitating and developing opportunities for the men on site at NRCF has changed her creative pathway and although she still makes work she now expands her creativity advocating for her prison artists and championing the transformative power of the arts in Corrections.

CreativeMornings with Russell Pickering
Friday 26th July, 8.00am - 9.30am
Studio One Toi Tū

Russell is one of New Zealand’s leading specialists in effective communication, business storytelling and presentation technique. Prior to founding The Pickering Group, Russell ran Auckland based communication skills consultancy SpeakEasy and established himself as an expert trainer, facilitator and coach in the field of business communication skills development. He has helped thousands of people, in some of New Zealand and Australia’s most visible organisations, become more confident and compelling communicators.

Russell thrives in the dynamic intersection of the arts and commerce. Originally training as a professional actor and director, Russell won a Bob Hope Scholarship to study for his Master of Fine Arts in Acting at Meadows School of the Arts (SMU) in the United States. As an actor he has appeared in commercial television, feature film, and on regional theatre stages throughout the US and NZ.

More recently, Russell completed his MBA as part of Auckland University’s NZ Executive programme.

CreativeMornings with Lee Tamahori
Friday 28th June, 8.00am - 9.30am
CHAIRS™

Lee Tamahori has spent his life creating a world of wonder. The art of directing relies on a combination of life experience and imagination to navigate the day to day operations on set. Something Lee says you can’t be prepared enough for.

Wellington born and raised, Lee’s professional journey started as a boom mic operator. Lee worked his way up the ranks, assisting alongside director Geoff Murphy in the early 80’s. During his run of award-winning commercials and feature films, Lee co-founded Flying Fish production company, as well as keeping a keen eye out for new actors and talent. His feature film debut, Once Were Warriors, cast a spotlight on topics that had never been previously seen on the big screen in a New Zealand context. To the New Zealand film going public, this sparked a new age of storytelling and gave space to reflect on our lives. This film also kickstarted Lee’s voyage through Hollywood blockbusters.

Lee’s life, both personally and professionally, is shaped by contribution. He is fueled by curiosity and wonder and his work speaks to this. Now, having over 30 years experience in filmmaking, Lee will join us to reflect on his creative process and the roots from which new ideas and problem solving grow.

Come join us on the 28th of June as Lee explores the WONDER that generates new ideas, and how this is translated into everyday life.

CreativeMornings with Rau Hoskins 
Friday 31st May, 8.00am - 9.30am 
Studio One Toi Tū

The creative practice of this month’s speaker is shaped through deep reflection and turns our attention to the environment around us. What do we care about? What do we take for granted? Would we miss it if it disappeared? How do cross-cultural conversation in Aotearoa answer the question of what do we PRESERVE?

Rau Hoskins, Ngāti Hau, Ngāpuhi, BArch, MArch(Hons), Pae Matua Ngā Aho is a director of designTRIBE architects, Rau has over 25 years’ experience working with Māori community-based design projects and has for the past 20 years specialised in the design of Māori educational institutions in the wider Auckland area. He has worked extensively as an urban and cultural design consultant, as well as in iwi liaison capacities on a range of large public projects where he has co-developed the Te Aranga design principles with Tāmaki mana whenua.

Rau sits on the Ministerial Advisory Group to the Minister of Housing, is active in Māori housing advocacy and papakāinga design projects as well as sitting on the Auckland Council Urban Design, Public Arts Advisory and Heritage Advisory Panels. Rau teaches part-time at the Unitec Department of Architecture and has been active in researching both traditional and hybrid Māori dwelling construction techniques. He presented the 13-part TV series Whare Māori, which won the AFTA for best information programme at the 2012 Aotearoa Film and Television Awards.

CreativeMornings with Kolokesa Mahina-Tuai & Barbara Afitu
Friday 26th April, 8.00am-9.30am
Studio One Toi Tū

“We had the same eyes, with the same vision.”

This moment of collaboration between super rad humans, Kolokesa Mahina-Tuai and Barbara Afitu, gave birth to their creative community consultancy Lagi Maama. Honouring the voice of their Tongan and Samoan ancestors, Lagi Maama is the vehicle for Kesa and Barb to lead from the heart, as navigators, connectors, and champions of community. With a background in curatorship, arts advocacy and community engagement, and a passion for critiquing terminology, Kesa and Barb are bringing to CreativeMornings their gentle but provocative style of talanoa to deep dive into our theme, INCLUSIVE.

Things will be a little bit different this month – same time, same place, different format. Kesa and Barb intend to hold space for us to come together as a community, explore the power structures that lie in this month’s theme, and leave us feeling connected with a sense of belonging.

If your jam is learning and creating knowledge together, then come and be a part of the awesome!

CreativeMornings with Michael Lakeman
Friday 29th March, 8.00am-9.30am
Studio One Toi Tū

We reckon saving the planet is creativity at its finest and it is our honour to welcome actual live creative scientist genius type human, Michael Lakeman, to the CreativeMornings whānau!

Water is the main source of all life. It is the lifeblood element that makes up 60% of our bodies. Now that he is home from years in US Michael is committed to sharing his passion for water and the regenerative and renewable resources of nature so that Aotearoa can truly thrive. This is not science class, this is life lessons 101 - expect the unexpected, and be ready for some Real Talk about how creatives can join the evolution.

Michael has spent his entire professional career carving out a space where creativity, science and commerce meet. For over ten years he has been a central figure in global efforts to bring sustainable aviation biofuels to market. He has served numerous organisations as an advisor and consultant including chairing the Steering Committee of the US Department of Energy’s peer review of their entire $2B BioEnergy Technology portfolio. Michael is also deeply committed to training and education and was a founding director of the Algae Foundation, a non-profit focused on STEM outreach and education.

Academically, he was awarded a Ph.D. in Botany from the University of Washington, Seattle, and attained his Bachelor’s degree of Science in Biological Chemistry from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand.