Toi Maori Aotearoa has announced the selection of Shannon Wafer as the inaugural artist for a new carving residency in Canada. There he'll work alongside top native Canadian artists and be involved with projects that include carving house poles and painting cultural house fronts.

Toi Maori Aotearoa has announced the selection of Shannon Wafer as the inaugural artist for a new carving residency in Canada. There he'll work alongside top native Canadian artists and be involved with projects that include carving house poles and painting cultural house fronts.

Shannon graduated in April 2006 from the New Zealand Maori Arts & Crafts Institute at Te Puia in Rotorua.

Shannon (Te Ati Awa, Taranaki, Ngapuhi) has been selected to participate in the Freda Diesing School of Northwest Coast Art at Northwest Community College in Vancouver, Canada.

"Shannon is an excellent selection," said James Rickard, Head of the Carving School at Te Puia. "He's conscientious and able to carve beautiful forms."

"I'm really excited about the prospect of learning about their carving techniques and to study the similarities and differences between our two cultures," says Shannon.

Toi Maori believes the new residency is an important part of forging positive links and relationships with the people of Northwest Canada in the promotion of contemporary indigenous art. One of the strategic goals of Toi Maori is to promote and support the long-term development of contemporary Maori artists and creating new directions for contemporary Maori art. 

10/8/07