What's On in the Arts in Central Otago - June
Central Otago artist Katie Robinson with her painting, inspired by the lines of
the Scorpius constellation. Winterstellar is creating an art challenge for a Central Stories night sky themed school holiday programme. This project encourages children to reimagine traditional constellations, fostering creativity while building a deeper appreciation for our remarkable night skies. The challenge invites young participants to look beyond ancient constellation
patterns and discover their own stories written in the stars. Through this creative process, we aim to spark curiosity about astronomy while inspiring original artistic expression. To guide and inspire participating children, we'll be inviting talented Central Otago artists to create their own interpretations of selected constellation patterns. These example works can be created in any artistic medium and interpreted however the artist chooses, while drawing from the same stellar inspiration. Central Otago holds a special place in the world when it comes to stargazing. Less than 0.1% of the world's population experiences what we see here: the heart of the Milky Way stretching across the sky, regular aurora displays, and minimal light pollution preserving our celestial view. Winterstellar's mission is to inspire, through art, the protection and appreciation of this precious taonga for future generations. Looking for patterns in the night sky is one of humanity's oldest traditions. Since early civilisations had time to observe and contemplate the stars, they've used these celestial guides for navigation, seasonal calendars, and as repositories of cultural knowledge and stories. Cultures throughout history have developed their own constellation systems, with many interpretations lost to time while others endure. The oldest surviving examples can be found in 17,500-year-old cave paintings in France, believed to show Taurus and the Pleiades (Matariki), proving our deep connection to the stars spans millennia. For our first challenge, we've
chosen Scorpius, a striking constellation that dominates our southern winter skies. This zodiac constellation sits prominently in the Southern hemisphere, positioned near the galactic centre between Libra and Sagittarius. Scorpius is one of the 48 constellations catalogued by Greek astronomer Ptolemy in the second century, though its recognition goes back much further, with records from ancient Babylon. In Māori astronomy, these same stars form part of the great asterism Te Waka O Tamarereti. Many people know it as Māui's Fish Hook, a name that became more widely recognized after Disney's Moana introduced Polynesian navigation stories to global audiences. This same star pattern carries different names and meanings across cultures worldwide, showing how universally humans find stories in the night sky. When the challenge concludes, all the artist examples will be auctioned at a special event during the Winterstellar Exhibition at Central Stories Museum in September 2025. Funds raised will support both Central Stories Museum and the Winterstellar Charitable Trust, helping us to continue connecting communities with the wonders of astronomy. This is part of an ongoing exploration of art and astronomy. We'll be sharing
regular updates about participating artists, how the school holiday programme develops, and the creative magic that emerges when young minds reimagine our celestial heritage. Who knows? We might just inspire the next generation of astronomers, artists, or simply people who never forget to look up and wonder. More information about this exciting project wit be relesed in the coming weeks and keep your eyes on the stars and your imagination even higher! Finally, Central Otago Arts is launching our Youth Arts Newsletter alongside fresh content on our www.centralotagoarts.com Youth Arts pages. We aim to inspire creativity, celebrate talent, and connect young people with arts opportunities. Subscribe to our newsletter for updates on events, workshops, and competitions across the region. Bookmark our youth arts events calendar to secure spots at popular events in your area. If you have arts news, projects, or creative work to showcase, get in touch! Enjoy all of What's On in the Arts in Central Otago this month.
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