With Madeleine Sami, Hera Lindsay Bird, Marianne Elliott, Claire Regnault and Nina Nawalowalo
Regarded as one of the most influential artists of her time, Cindy Sherman has for more than four decades produced work which has stimulated conversation on issues relevant to women. On the occasion of International Women's Day 2017, we are delighted to offer the exhibition at City Gallery as the starting point for another stimulating discussion.
Women from different walks of life respond to their favourite photograph in Cindy Sherman, featuring actor, director and Funny Girl Madeleine Sami, poet Hera Lindsay Bird, ActionStation director Marianne Elliott, curator Claire Regnault and theatre director Nina Nawalowalo.
Doors open at 6pm. Talks begin at 6.20pm and refreshments will be served before and after.
This event is a collaboration between City Gallery Wellington and UN Women National Committee Aotearoa New Zealand. The ticket price includes entry to the exhibition, participation in the talks, and refreshments. In addition, $10 from every ticket sold supports UN women projects to end violence against women and girls in the Pacific.
About the speakers
Madeleine Sami is an actor for the stage and screen, a musician, and—like Cindy Sherman—a chameleon. She first made her name playing multiple characters in Toa Fraser's Bare and Number 2. In 2011 she starred in her own TV comedy series Super City, in which she played diverse and hilarious characters living in different areas of Auckland. In 2015 she starred in the sketch comedy TV show Funny Girls, then went on to direct the second series. She is currently in pre-production for her first feature film, The Breaker Upperers, which she has co-written and will co-direct with Jackie van Beek.
Hera Lindsay Bird is a poet. Her first book, Hera Lindsay Bird, published in 2016 by Victoria University Press, has been widely celebrated and was reprinted the day after it was released.
Marianne Elliott is the director of ActionStation, a human rights advocate and a writer. She served in the United Nations mission in Afghanistan with a focus on human rights and gender issues, helped develop human rights strategies for the governments of New Zealand and Timor-Leste and worked as a policy advisor for Oxfam. She wrote a book about her experiences in Afghanistan called Zen Under Fire and she writes for The Huffington Post.
Claire Regnault is Senior Curator History at Te Papa. She has worked as a curator for over 20 years on projects ranging from contemporary art and design to Hip Hop, craft practices, social history and dress. Her current research focusses primarily on New Zealand’s fashion history and associated industries. She is the co-author of The Dress Circle: New Zealand Fashion Design Since 1940 which was shortlisted for the 2011 NZ Post Book Awards.
Nina Nawalowalo is a theatre director whose work has been presented at over 40 festivals. Her awards include the International Brotherhood of Magicians Comedy Award, CNZ Pacific Innovation and Excellence Award and Outstanding Theatre Award in Edinburgh 2014. Her acclaimed first work, Vula, toured internationally, and The White Guitar recently concluded sold-out seasons in Wellington and Auckland.
