Tahiti Fashion Exhibit

Tahiti fashion covering 220 years goes on exhibit Oct. 7 at Papeete City Hall

(Tahiti Presse) - An exhibition of Tahitian fashion covering the 220-year period from 1760 to 1980 will go on exhibit inside and outside the Papeete City Hall on Oct. 7 and continue through Nov. 4.

Many associations and professionals have contributed to the exhibit, which will retrace the history of Tahitian fashion from the 18th to the 20th Century. Aided by descriptions from Tahiti's first European visitors, the archives of the Museum of Tahiti and Her Islands and the people's memories, the organizers have been able to reproduce the 220-year epoch.

All of the fashions that will be on exhibit have been financed entirely by local couturiers, who have invested time, effort and materials to present this retrospective of Tahitian fashion.

Teiki Villant, choreographer for the locally and internationally famous Grands Ballets de Tahiti traditional dance group, will present some 100 models for a special fashion show for the inauguration of the exhibition on Oct. 7.

Men and women will present a variety of traditional costumes made from plant fibers, such as pandanus leaves used to make a Tiputa, a sort of cloak. They also will present the first missionary dresses, inspired by the first British missionaries to arrive in Tahiti. In some cases, families have loaned for this special occasion dresses dating back to the end of the 19th Century.

There also will be a photo exhibition, with treasures from both private and public sources throughout the Society Islands to illustrate the different epochs within the 220-year period covered.

There will be demonstrations of basket weaving and sewing, allowing visitors to better appreciate the evolution of Tahitian fashion, particularly the influence that European fashion had in Tahitian dress starting in the 19th Century.

Finally, there will be informal talks presented during certain days of the week at the Papeete City Hall, allowing those with experience in Tahiti fashion to explain to visitors the types of evolution that have occurred.

Tahiti's First English Language Anthology

Bishop Museum, located in Honolulu, Hawaii will be the sight of French Polynesia's first english language anthology. Featured at this event will be the official release of the anthology "Varua Tupu". Edited by Frank Stewart, Kareva Mateata-allain, and Alexander Dale Mawyer, this work showcases the cultural arts of French Polynesia.

A delegation, led by French Polynesia Culture Minister Tauhiti Nena will offer presentations on October 3rd at Native Books. A conference at the University of Hawaii and visits to Pacific Island literature classes at the University of the Pacific are also scheduled.

Varua Tupu is Tahitian for "The Spirit of the Ancient Ones" represents "a new writing from French Polynesia". Included are art works by such artists as Michel Chansin, the late Bobby Holcomb, Michel Ko, Claire Leimbach and Marie-Hélène Villierme. Writers contributing works of fiction, non-fiction, poetry and memoirs were University of French Polynesia President Louise Peltzer, Flora Devatine, Taaria Walker, Rai a Mai, the late Henry Hiro, Patrick Araia Amaru, Bruno Saura, John Lind, Célestine Hitiura Vaite, Titaua Peu and Kareva Mateata-Allain.

French Polynesia President Oscar Temaru has written a preface for Varua Tupu, which he considers "a welcome sign that the obstacles dividing Tahiti from the rest of Pasifika are rapidly being overcome. Even the barrier of language no longer need divide us from one another. We all belong to the Pacific, as brothers, sisters and cousins, and it is significant that we are able to travel freely across the reef, physically and through the imaginations of our artists, and get to know one another again.

"For the first time, the voices of the Polynesian people can be heard in English, and the faces and the way of life in ours islands have been expressed in an artistic way. We wish that projects such as this one will strengthen the friendship that already exists between the islanders and bring us closer together."

More info at Tahiti Presse

Tahiti Nui Heiva I Japan

Tahitian dance is expanding around the world. This 1st annual competition located in Tokyo, Japan is a sister competition to the Heiva held in Tahiti and Honolulu, Hawaii. The event has an official website and more information will become available shortly. The event will take place on Sept. 9, 2006. Tahiti Nui Heiva I Japan is sponsored by Treasure Island Corporation of Japan.