Manawa: Pacific Heartbeat: A Celebration of Contemporary Maori and Northwest Coast Art.

Ann Turner is Financial and Budget Manager at the University of British
Columbia Library.

The Spirit Wrestler Gallery in Vancouver, B.C., represents artists of three cultures: the First Nations of the Pacific Northwest, the Inuit of the Canadian Arctic, and the Maori of New Zealand. It is a leader in promoting cross-cultural artistic exploration and exchange. The gallery’s “Manawa” exhibition in February and March 2006 examined the common themes of sky, water, and land in the work of contemporary Maori and Northwest Coast artists. Produced to accompany the exhibition, this beautiful guide features fine colour photographs of more than 60 of the museum-quality pieces created especially for the show. The works include masks, paintings, sculptures, jewellery, weaving, and glasswork. Statements by the artists identify the origins and cultural significance of each piece. Thirty-one Maori and fifteen Pacific Northwest artists are represented in the collection. Two lengthy introductory essays provide background information for the exhibition and encourage further study. Darcy Nicholas’s essay “Breath of the Land” describes the development of New Zealand’s contemporary indigenous art movement. “Pacific Connections,” by the authors of this guide, discusses similarities between the cultures and emphasizes the importance of cross-cultural projects such as this one in advancing aboriginal art worldwide. This is an excellent introduction to the art of two widely separated cultures, inviting thoughtful comparison of their common elements and influences.