While Pride Festival has understandably been cancelled for this year there are still ways for Aucklanders to celebrate what Pride stands for in a more socially distanced way.
Auckland Council’s Proud Centres had been looking forward to being involved in Pride Festival over February and were disappointed to hear of the cancellation of the Auckland Pride Festival due to COVID-19.
But some of the passive art installations planned for Pride Festival can still go ahead safely, and Councillor Alf Filipaina, Chair of Auckland Council’s Parks, Arts, Communities and Events Committee encourages Aucklanders to use these as a way of celebrating pride.
“We fully support the decision Auckland Pride made to cancel the festival. Protecting our communities is the most important thing and council supports decisions that put communities first. However, we wanted to still acknowledge and celebrate Pride Month and the passive art installations can help us do that.”
Auckland Council’s Arts, Culture and Heritage Manager Emily Trent says that the successful installation of the works means the efforts of the artists and teams involved won’t be in vain.
“It is great that the public can still see these works. Some will generate pride, some will be thought-provoking, while others will be emotional. That is the essence of art, so I encourage everyone to explore these art installations across Tāmaki Makaurau.”
Councillor Filipaina agrees that these installations can play an important part in celebrating Pride Month.
“No matter where you are in Tāmaki Makaurau, there will be something near you to celebrate and remember Pride Month. Let’s celebrate with our rainbow whānau the great progress that has been made in the last 50 years.”
Back and Forth exhibition
One of the most engaging installations will be the Back and Forth exhibition in Freyberg Square from 9 February. This outdoor lightbox exhibition will display images day and night, curated by Auckland Council’s Arts, Culture & Heritage Unit and supported by Auckland Council’s DPO (Development Programme Office), to celebrate 50 years of Pride in Tāmaki Makaurau.
Included in the exhibition are photographs by Ralph Brown that capture what early meeting places for Auckland’s queer community look like now; photographs by Julia Durkin of former Coming Out Days and Hero Parades; and illustrations by Filipino artist Marc Conaco telling the all-too-familiar story of the Christianisation, demonisation and destruction of LGBTTQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Takatāpui, Queer, Intersex, Asexual and others) BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour) people that took place throughout the Pacific and beyond.
Lockdown Diary installation
In addition to the illustrations provided for Back and Forth, Marc’s illustrative series Lockdown Diary adorns the Ellen Melville Centre on the northern part of Freyberg Square.
"Lockdown Diary" installation at Ellen Melville Centre. Photo: Ralph Brown
Te Tīmatanga
Seven Takatāpui artists have been commissioned to showcase their work through public art installations across the city centre, meaning it can be enjoyed at any COVID-19 alert level. This kāhui (constellation) of artists will celebrate the talents, resilience, nuances and lived experience of what it means to be takatāpui. The centre of the constellation will be the Albert Park Caretaker’s Cottage, with the cluster spreading from Aotea Square, Albert Park, down to Commercial Bay, and the Viaduct.
MAP Project
Another exciting art project run by Auckland Council, in partnership with Phantom BillStickers is the MAP (Making Art Public) Project and seeks to reimagine the city as a large gallery.
This outdoor poster exhibition will feature artists Sara Moana, Cassidy Power, Telly Tuita and John Miller’s historic photographs of one of Aotearoa’s first Gay Liberation Front protests in Albert Park on its 50th anniversary.
This project will see twenty different artworks in 52 sites across Tāmaki Makaurau.
Progress Pride Flag installations and more
The steps in Freyberg Square will also once again be covered by Progress Pride flag decals. Called Step by Step, the decal installation is based on Daniel Quasar’s flag design.
The Progress Pride flag also flaps proudly from lightposts down Queen Street and is the basis of Drip Drip on the front of Studio One - Toi Tū in Ponsonby as well as the S/Entry at the New Lynn Community Centre.
Titirangi’s Lopdell House will be lit up with Rainbow Bright, a light art installation that showers the front of the building in stunning rainbow colours while Rainbow Machine, an Auckland Public Art collection piece, will be installed in the beautiful gardens at Nathan Homestead Pukepuke, Manurewa during Pride Month.
Lopdell House, Titirangi. Photo: Ralph Brown