Pause Blur Grass Witch Workshop

Thursday 4 March, 4pm - 6:30pm
This workshop is free to attend and welcome to all. 

Please join us for a workshop with artists Connor Fitzgerald and Louie Zalk-Neale as part of their exhibition GLOSSY LEAF kiss.

This workshop will focus on queer experience, and everyone is welcome to join in and spend time focusing on the crossovers of our connections to nature, gender and expression. The first part will be dedicated to listening, reading, discussing and responding to texts by queer artists and writers. Then after some kai, we will learn rope making techniques using plant fibres and some surrounding tikanga.

Please register by emailing mya@blueoyster.org.nz and please include any of your dietary requirements.

Blue Oyster has some physical accessibility limitations, including two stairs at the street entrance. If you have accessibility requirements or queries you would like to discuss before arriving, please contact mya@blueoyster.org.nz or call 03 479 0197.

This event will go ahead at Alert Level 1 and Alert Level 2 (with extra measures in place). Please stay home if you are feeling unwell on the day of the workshop. 

GLOSSY LEAF kiss
Connor Fitzgerald & Louie Zalk-Neale
Exhibition runs: 4 March – 10 April 2021

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Louie Zalk-Neale (Ngāi Te Rangi, Pākehā) is a queer artist based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington, originally from Hokitika. Louie grounds their practice in bodily adornment created from found and natural materials, making reference to clothing while inviting adaptive usage. By activating these material explorations in interactive performances and re-imagining them in images, Louie allows space for their audience to critically observe and embody the absurdity of normalised experiences; with LGBTQI+ traditions and Mātauranga Māori supporting their practice.

Louie’s work has recently featured at Artspace Aotearoa’s New Artists Show (Tāmaki Makaurau 2020); Critical Costume Conference (Norway 2020); Shared Lines Collective at Birdo Flugas Gallery Sendai (Japan) and Kaikōura (2019); and at MEANWHILE in Te Whanganui-a-Tara where they are currently a board member.
Instagram: @louiemole

Connor Fitzgerald is a nonbinary artist based in Te Whanganui-A-Tara, with a multi-disciplinary practice in video, writing and installation. They let their experience as a transfeminine person lead the direction of their research. Centring themself within the wider context of their surroundings opens opportunity for their creative output to be a process for grounding.

Connor has recently been in the group show 2+2+2 at Precinct 35, 2020. Solo show What is Faith Without Doubt? at Clearview Gallery 2020. They have a BFA from Massey University and are a current staff member of Gender Minorities Aotearoa and is a facilitator at play_station.
Instagram: @connor.tation