Programmes

Get inspired by art with an eco aquatic focus. Shona Rapira Davies’ huge sculpture Ko te Kihikihi Taku Ingoa introduces us to the ancient tale of the whale and the kauri tree. Local artist Jacqui Elley recycles beach combed plastics into complex lightboxes. Len Lye’s Edge of the Sea shows how to get great art ideas connected withte moana (the sea).

In the studio we sculpt mixed media shadow puppets to float through a sea of projected light.Give your ocean creature a voice, and create its message for humans about caring for taiao (nature).

Classes visiting the Gallery may also consider visiting the Reef Alive exhibition at Puke Ariki.

At school:

Watch this video to find out more about the story of the Kauri and Tohorā. 

Share this short resource about artist Jacqui Elley and the story behind her art Jacqui Elley's Lightbox Google slides.

List ways you and your whānau could improve your school or community’s environment and get started!

Find out how other artists spread a message of kaitiakitanga.

How did Len Lye get inspired by nature?

Research and learn more about the art and life of Len Lye.

Check out animated moana themed tales from a Pasifika point of view on Coconet tv, including The Tale of the Terrible Tuna. 

Sea Week has already passed for this year but there are still great resources and links available on the Sea Week website. 

Investigate how art, science and matauranga Māori connect: how can a person’s curiosity about natural phenomena inspire their art?

We look at weather systems, aquatic life, taiao and kinetic energy, exploring Len Lye's exhibition Edge of the Sea and Te Hau Whakatonu | A Series of Never-Ending Beginnings before creating our own artwork that brings science and imagination together.

At school

Share these links to artworks that students will see on their visit.

Lisa Reihana’s Hinepukohurangi

Paintings by Darcy Nicholas 

WharehokaSmith's Kureitanga II IV

Research Len Lye and explore how he was inspired by nature. 

Bring your students kanohi ki te kanohi with toi Māori. Every Māori artist in the Govett-Brewster Collection is represented in the Te Hau Whakatonu | A Series of Never-Ending Beginnings. This a wonderful opportunity to experience a huge range of styles and media and bring matauranga Māori into your classroom through art.

In this programme, we gather ideas linked to whakairo, poi and raranga and create class korowai to show our learning. Junior students focus on personal history and symbols, senior students delve into Taranaki history including Parihaka, conflict and peace.

At school

Share with students some artworks featuring in the exhibition:

Ngaahina Hohaia's Poi artwork Roimata Toroa

Para Matchitt's Whakapapa-IV

WharehokaSmith's Kureitanga II IV

Lisa Reihana’s  Hinepukohurangi

Darcy Nicholas paintings

Click here for a virtual tour of the exhibition Brett Graham Tai Moana Tai Tangata created for schools. 

Bring your students kanohi ki te kanohi with toi Māori. Every Māori artist in the Govett-Brewster Collection is represented in the Te Hau Whakatonu | A Series of Never-Ending Beginnings. This a wonderful opportunity to experience a huge range of styles and media and bring matauranga Māori into your classroom through art.

Māori artists use carving, paintings, photography and many other art forms to make connections between tangata and whenua. On our hikoi around the exhibition we collect symbols to represent us and our turangawaewae. Construct mixed media collages, ‘carving’ and colouring our personal family tree.

At school

Share with students some artworks featuring in the exhibition.

Ngaahina Hohaia's Poi artwork Roimata Toroa

Para Matchitt's Whakapapa-IV

WharehokaSmith's Kureitanga II IV

Lisa Reihana’s  Hinepukohurangi

Darcy Nicholas paintings

Click here for a virtual tour of the exhibition Brett Graham Tai Moana Tai Tangata created for schools. 

What can we learn from Len Lye?

Experience Len Lye's multi-sensory exhibitions The Edge of the Sea and Wand Dance through interactive activities adaptable to your students’ learning needs and level.

Find out how Len Lye came up with his ideas and what made his art special. Create your own art and dance moves inspired by his unique approach.


At school:

Find out about Len Lye here

Reo Māori/Bilingual

To find out what the Gallery can offer kōpae and kura kaupapa ākonga, please contact the Gallery’s education team.

How did old school animation work? What makes Len Lye’s films still cool today?

We go to the ‘flicks’ to discover how image, movement and sound are combined to create an illusion. Students analyse animation techniques and use gallery zoetropes (animation viewing devices) to create their own moving image.

See: The Edge of the Sea and Charting the Zig Zags exhibitions 

BYO your class video camera, phone or ipad to record students’ animations.

At school:
Google Slide: Len Lye Style Flip Book

Click below to view Len Lye films online:
Tusalava
A Colour Box
The Birth of a Robot
Free Radicals

Films supplied by Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision. Please respect the integrity of Len Lye’s artwork by not copying his films.

Download the Len Lye: Animation Resource

A compilation DVD entitled Colour Box: 19 Films by Len Lye is available from the Govett-Brewster Shop

Create - Family Art activities online:

These quick, fun activities are based on Family Art sessions in the Gallery (10.30 – 12.30am Sundays), a selection are now available online to share in school or as links for home learning. Found in the ‘What’s on’ section of the Gallery website Create: Online Art Activities, Instagram posts, or as Google slides for classroom use.

Tai Moana Tai Tangata virtual tour:

Visit the Gallery’s website and take your class on a virtual tour of the monumental exhibition by Brett Graham (Ngāti Koroki Kahukura, Tainui) Tai Moana Tai Tangata. This virtual tour was developed for schools and aims to bring local history to life through art. Accompanying lesson plans available by request.

Marae-based learning, where Gallery educators join in with classes at their local marae to share kaupapa about ngā toi.