Gallery Open : Monday - Friday : 10:00am - 2:00pm
NEWS
Keep up to date on what's going on with us in all forms of media.
Success of the
Tatai Hononga Carving Symposium
August 2024
Gallery Tavioni & Vananga
Papa Mike and his fellow New Zealand Master Carver, Mike Matchitt came together with carvers from both the Cook Islands and New Zealand to share knowledge, exploring the papa’anga and migration from
Raiatea to Rarotonga and onto Aotearoa.
New Zealand carvers Mike Matchitt, Kahu Pakipaki, Roni Pentley, Te Rautini Sheridan and Shane Andrews joined our local carving team of Papa Mike, his apprentices Ollie Oolders and
Bernie King plus Brent Holiey
with the support of Henry Tavioni.
Together and individually over the almost two weeks together created some exceptional carvings to represent this journey. These carvings are for sale and on display in the old
Whale Museum building next to
Gallery Tavioni and Vananga.
MICHAEL (MIKE) TAVIONI
aka: Papa Mike
Papa Mike has been recognised as one of the finalists in the
2024 Cook Islands People's Choice Awards.
These awards are given on behalf of Tourism Cook Islands for people that have made a significant contribution to tourism in the last year.
Guided by the Kia Orana values, these awards recognise the passion and dedication shown in providing genuine, authentic and memorable experiences to not only our visitors but also our locals.
Part of Papa Mikes teachings has always been that we need to learn from our Grandparents and pass these learnings onto the new generations. Developing and promoting culture through korero, art and action.
Discussing climate change, agriculture and the value of indigenous knowledge
Monday 13 May we hosted a meet and greet session with two professors from Oklahoma State University, Joshua Ringer and Karl Rich, who joined us in our classroom to discuss the topic of climate change, agriculture and traditional knowledge.
The engagement was arranged in partnership with Cook Islands research network 'Te Puna Vai Marama' and Gina from the Gallery.
A group of 16 people from various spaces in the community including local gardeners and produce growers, the team from Climate Change Cook Islands, Te Puna Vai Marama and other advocates for peu Maori (Maori culture) attended to learn more about Karl, Josh and the universities hopes for partnership with the Cook Islands to learn more about how our traditional practices sustain our way of life in the face of 'climate change' and to compare notes and create relationships with the native American students and tribes of their home state.
Hana Ho
Papa Mike and Gina were were in a
Hana Hou magazine article for
Hawaiian Airlines called
"People of the Vaka".
Meitaki to Stuart Dawrs and Blake Abes for the write up and photography.
