Using materials that would otherwise have ended up in landfill and turning them into art is a passion that Maggy Johnston of Richmond is showcasing in this year’s Te Mararoa exhibition. Formerly Light Nelson, the show is expanding from its previous Queens Gardens location to include installations all over the city. “I chose to make sea creature sculptures because it appeals across the generations,” says Maggy. The giant stingray took Maggy hundreds of hours to make and is intricately crocheted using copper wire, which has left her with callouses on her hands. “The materials I choose are rugged and rough and that’s part of their charm, turning them into something beautiful,” she says. “But my poor fingers and hands have rough patches all over them. I do tend to suffer for my art but it’s about raising awareness in terms of sustainability and how people dispose of their rubbish.”
Her installation includes a three-metre-long eel made from the lids of wine bottles and a jellyfish made from floristry wire. “I’ve also made a net which all the sea creatures will be caught in to symbolise the fact our oceans are full of garbage,” say Maggy. The eel took over 500 lids to make. “Each one has been drilled four times by hand, then attached with wire. Vineyards, cafes and friends have all helped collect them. By involving the community in my projects, the word is getting out on how we can actually reduce our waste in a better way. It just makes people stop and think.”
The biennial festival, which was postponed last year due to Covid, had outgrown the space in Queens Gardens and the name change provided an opportunity to shift directions, which included expanding the footprint of the light festival.
“One of the key areas will be around the Cathedral Hill, utilising lots of different pockets of the area, including the steps and 1903, and spreading down into upper Trafalgar Street,” says Sophie Kelly, project manager for Te Mararoa.
A performance precinct in the area will offer a community stage, music and roving dancers. A food hub will be located in Kirby Lane with light installations through Old Bank Lane, Morrison Square, NMIT’s Arts and Media building and Masonic Temple.
“This year it’s much more about discovery as opposed to having a dedicated route. It might be something you want to do over a couple of nights, but actually you can just go in any direction and this is no entry or exit anywhere,” says Sophie.
Te Ramaroa runs from 9-13 July between 5.30pm-9.30pm. Maggy’s display with be positioned on the Nile Street side of Cathedral Gardens. For a map of the festival, visit teramaroa.nz.