Over the years the amount of insider info (ok gossip) reaching OTN has increased dramatically. Our position has always been that good news (or bad news for that matter) isn’t for the select few and everyone should know everything. That’s why most of what we hear comes your way. Occasionally, though, we are told something before we have a chance to state our no-confidentiality policy and we hold the bus. That’s why we didn’t pass on last week the terrific news that Michael Parekowhai has been chosen by CNZ as New Zealand’s next representative at the Venice Biennale. But, as the news is now all round Wellington, being emailed from Auckland and yesterday from Sydney, there’s no reason why the South Island should be kept in the dark.
So far we haven’t heard if a public art museum is to be associated with the project as in the past, but there is word that a curator will not be appointed. Well, that's always been a strange role to couple with a single artist on a mission so it’s unlikely to be missed. Let’s hope, in what seems to be a new and very decisive approach by CNZ that they will also drop what Selwyn Muru used to call haka boogie woogie, a feature of previous Venice promotions.
If anyone has any doubts as to Parekowhai’s ability to knock ‘em dead in Italy, go here.
Image: Photoshop was 20 years old on Saturday, happy birthday dear Photoshop... happy birthday to you.
Other posts we've called Open Mike:
Rafting news with Mike Stevenson
Mike Parr on Cockatoo Island
Whoops, Mike Stevenson again
