Arty facts

A look at what's happening in the world of art.

Dedicated to duo

The 2009 Lexus Song Quest winner, Wellington-born lyric soprano Aivale Cole, performs in Dunedin next week.

The artist formerly known as Mabel Faletolu will present "Leontyne 'n' Ella", which comprises two 45-minute concerts dedicated to her favourite singers - soprano Leontyne Price and jazz legend Ella Fitzgerald.

After her Dunedin engagement, Cole will jet off to Broome, in Australia, for "Opera Under The Stars" on August 29.

Cole performs at 7.30pm on Thursday, August 13, in the Glenroy Auditorium. The winners of the Otago Daily Times draw for double passes to the concert are: Eleanor Green, Darlene Adams, Maggie Peake, Brenda Shine and V. Graham.

Tenor goes modern

International tenor Paul Chappory will perform with Operatunity at the Mosgiel Coronation Hall next week.

The "Modern Musicals" concert at 11am on Monday will showcase songs from leading musicals such as Phantom of the Opera, West Side Story, Cats and Sweeney Todd.

A highlight of Chappory's career has been performing with late Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti.

The tenor will be joined by baritone Stuart Coats, soprano Lynette Martin and accompanist Alex Wiltshire.

Shutters up on winter

The Dunedin Photographic Society said goodbye to winter with a recent slide exhibition.

More than 100 photographs were submitted in natural history and open categories for the annual winter exhibition.

The images were judged by Hamilton photographer John Greenwood.

The society holds four seasonal exhibitions each year; two print and two digital photos or slides.

The winners and best nine entries can be viewed here

Buddies needed

The Taieri Musical Society is looking for buddies.

"We are currently having trouble casting the Apollo Performers for our new production, Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story," society member Tania Graham says.

"We require two males with the ability to act and sing who are of African-American, Maori or Pacific Island extraction.

"Rehearsal time can be kept to a minimum, but we need two men who can really make an impact."

For more information, contact Tania at (027) 602-0117 or email oldmaster@xtra.co.nz

Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story covers the three years when Buddy Holly became the world's top recording artist, and features more than 20 of his greatest hits, including Peggy Sue, That'll Be The Day, Oh Boy, and Maybe Baby.

The Taieri Musical Society's production of Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story plays from October 16 to 24 at Coronation Hall in Mosgiel.

Poetry in Purakaunui

A new poetry publishing company has opened in Purakaunui.

Black Doris Press has been established by Dunedin poet David Howard, founding editor of literary magazine Takahe, who has also worked as a pyrotechnic and special effects supervisor for acts such as Metallica.

He published his first collection of poetry, In the First Place, in 1991.

The first book published by Black Doris press is Push (RRP $29.95) by Christchurch poet David Gregory.

Black Doris Press can be contacted c/- David Howard, 213 Purakaunui Rd, RD1, Port Chalmers 9081.

Birthday bash

The Artist's Room celebrates its fifth anniversary in Dunedin this weekend.

A celebratory exhibition opens at midday on Saturday with paintings, ceramics, prints, mixed media and sculpture works by the gallery's contracted artists.

Artists include Geoff Williams, Sam Foley, Michel Tuffery, Colin Wheeler, Jenny Dolezel, Olav Nielsen, Steev Peyroux, Matt Guild, Margaret Silverwood, Alan Ibell and Elisabeth Vullings.

The Artist's Room "Fifth Birthday Invitational" is on until August 22.

Weaver mourned

Creative New Zealand chief executive Stephen Wainwright this week paid tribute to leading Maori weaver Diggeress Rangituatahi Te Kanawa (Ngati Maniapoto, Ngati Kinohaku) following her death.

Mrs Te Kanawa was a key figure in the renaissance of the Maori weaving movement, co-founding the Aotearoa Moananui-a-Kiwa Weavers Association in 1983 and having a profound impact on Maori arts, he said.

Mrs Te Kanawa learned her craft working alongside her mother, Dame Rangimarie Hetet.

In 2006 Te Waka Toi, the Maori arts board of Creative New Zealand, awarded her with its most prestigious award, Te Tohutiketike a Te Waka Toi, for her lifetime's achievements.