Cora-Allan Twiss – Choosing our tools
I have always been very strategic and selective in my sharing of knowledge; over the years I was trained in the art of ‘tread with caution’ something I picked up from my Dad and Nana who don’t trust anyone. This caution started to play more into the traditional baskets of knowledge that we were building, we were not just to share with anyone but people who would carry the mana of the knowledge that we were gifting.
The values and foresight to know who we transfer our knowledge too is something that remains with me, and how I am sharing that knowledge is important. Growing up experiences and different styles of teaching always captivated me as my creative brain appreciated something no one thought of and I loved and still love surprises.
My presentation will be leaning into the whakatauki of the conference, He piko toiataata as I search for new ways of sharing the tools and resources I have in my kete.
Biography
Cora-Allan (Ngapuhi, Ngatitumutumu / Alofi, Liku) is a multidisciplinary artist originally from Waitakere. She has a MA in Visual Art and Design in Performance from AUT and was the recipient of a AUT Postgraduate Deans award for her research.
She has exhibited her work throughout Aotearoa and internationally including Australia, Niue, England and Canada. Her work sits in major collections including The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Auckland War Memorial Museum and the Wallace Arts Trust. Cora-Allan was awarded a McCahon House Residency (2021) the Creative New Zealand Pacific Heritage Artist award (2020) and received Annual Arts Grant funding to focus full time on her Hiapo (Niuean Barkclotth) practice in 2021.