Karamu art teacher creates apple sculpture
A Karamu High School art teacher is one of 20 artists who have had apple sculptures they made displayed around the streets of Hastings.
Justin Kite (Ngāti Kahungunu), who is also a Year 11 Dean at the school in Hastings, says he was encouraged by principal Dionne Thomas to apply to participate in the Big Apple Project.
Organised by Arts Inc. Heretaunga, Studio Benega and the Hawke’s Bay Arts Festival, with funding from the Hastings District Council, the project aims to celebrate the industry.
Mr Kite’s one cubic metre fibreglass apple “cultivated” draws on Egyptian hieroglyphics and its history of cultivation.
Simple lines and shapes form pictographs in a rhythmic series that traverses around the sculpture. These symbols are a societal narrative through history, from nature, to early industry, business, and technology.
“Hieroglyphics depict narratives and storytelling. So, what I wanted to do is work on humanity as a whole telling the story of life and what I consider to be snippets of time.”
Seeing the sculpture actualised was particularly enjoyable, Mr Kite says.
“I like a challenge and I like to solve problems. When I get given a problem or a challenge, whether it's poetry, painting sculpture or design, I like trying to visualise it and make it come to fruition.
“Although you have a set goal, you go through the highs and lows of that. I think what I enjoyed about it was seeing it come together, having this outcome in my mind, and seeing if I could realise that.”
The apples have now transformed the streets, parks, and public spaces of Hastings into a fun, free art gallery for people to find from mid-August to October.
This will be followed by Public Auction at the 2022 Hawke’s Bay Arts Festival. It is expected that the ‘Big Apples’ will end up in private art collections along with businesses wanting to own a unique representation and celebration of Hawke’s Bay creativity and a great local industry.
Mr Kite holds a Bachelor of Visual Art and Design.
He has held group and solo shows around the country and has been successful in EAST, the HB Review, Art in the Park (Eden Park) and the NZ Art show being selected in the judges top 10.
He has been commissioned by TVNZ to design and fabricate awards and won an international trip with the design of a commercial interior. He has also written a children's book titled 'Even Tiger's Need to Sleep'.
Karamu High School Art Teacher and Year 11 Dean Justin Kite with his apple sculpture “Cultivated”. Photo/Supplied.
He has taught Art and Design in New Zealand and China for 15 years, the past seven of which have been spent at Karamu.
As an art teacher, Mr Kite believes it is important to keep creating art.
“People have said in the past when you become an art teacher, don't give up your art. You've got to keep on creating art. So, I do show my students what I’m working on. I'm still staying creative to keep me in the game, keep me motivated and keep them motivated too.”
“It's good that senior leadership of the school support that sort of creativity and extracurricular and cultural endeavours. They're really encouraging of different staff and sport and culture and things like that.”
Principal Dionne Thomas says it is a great example of “Proudly Hastings”.
“When I saw the opportunity advertised, I emailed it to all my creative ‘minded staff’ - many paint and design in their spare time, and Justin applied.
“I hope we may be able to eventually get his apple back at school - a great example of Proudly Hastings.”
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