Many homes in Coromandel Town and the surrounding area have a Tony Calsaferri on their wall. After 24 years of painting, Tony’s work has found its place, with him completing 100 paintings annually.
Darby Tuhaka is an artist, advocate, activist, cultural preservationist and healer. His business, Healing Ink Studio, is a multi-faceted venture, home to tā moko (traditional tattoo), whakairo (carving) and rongoā (traditional medicine). It’s also what he calls “a destination for discarded taonga (treasures)”.
I’ve been creating art for as long as I can remember.
As a child, my favourite activity was drawing. I’d carefully arrange my pens in rainbow order before each session, a reflection of my early obsession with colour.
This is my third time writing about Creatives in Schools for Coromind. I have a personal connection to the mahi, but I’m also a fierce advocate for the arts. I believe the arts are a core necessity for people of all backgrounds, for enjoyment, entertainment and wellbeing. Which is why I stand in solidarity with arts advocates who are pushing for the reinstatement of the programme, after the Government announced in June 2024 it will cease funding.
Poetic Ground is a space dedicated to expression for the Communities of Coromandel – brought to you by Coromind Magazine
Many homes in Coromandel Town and the surrounding area have a Tony Calsaferri on their wall. After 24 years of painting, Tony’s work has found its place, with him completing 100 paintings annually.
Darby Tuhaka is an artist, advocate, activist, cultural preservationist and healer. His business, Healing Ink Studio, is a multi-faceted venture, home to tā moko (traditional tattoo), whakairo (carving) and rongoā (traditional medicine). It’s also what he calls “a destination for discarded taonga (treasures)”.
I’ve been creating art for as long as I can remember.
As a child, my favourite activity was drawing. I’d carefully arrange my pens in rainbow order before each session, a reflection of my early obsession with colour.
This is my third time writing about Creatives in Schools for Coromind. I have a personal connection to the mahi, but I’m also a fierce advocate for the arts. I believe the arts are a core necessity for people of all backgrounds, for enjoyment, entertainment and wellbeing. Which is why I stand in solidarity with arts advocates who are pushing for the reinstatement of the programme, after the Government announced in June 2024 it will cease funding.
Poetic Ground is a space dedicated to expression for the Communities of Coromandel – brought to you by Coromind Magazine
