Northart is a leading contemporary public art facility in Northcote Town Centre, located on Ernie Mays Street in the former Northcote Citizens Hall until 2027 with the exciting development of Northcote’s new community hub. The gallery is made possible through generous support from Auckland Council, Kaipātiki Local Board, The Lion Foundation, and Birkenhead Licensing Trust. Kirstein McKendry is the newly appointed Art in the Community Lead at Northart and brings over 15 years of experience across galleries, public art, and community engagement. She’s passionate about connecting people with creativity, strengthening bicultural practice, and making art accessible to all, and talks to Channel about art, social media and what’s on at the gallery.
Channel Mag: Tell me a little bit about Northart, what’s the origin story?
Kirstein McKendry: Northart was established in 1998 and has a long and respected history in Northcote, exhibiting a wide range of local and national artists of notable talent and standing in their fields. Currently, based in our 26m² gallery (a smaller footprint than our previous space) while the redevelopment of Northcote Town Centre is underway, alongside exhibitions in the gallery we are very eager to engage public space, experimenting and collaborating in new locations all over the Kaipātiki area, making art happen in unexpected places. The next big chapter in our history will be Northart moving into the new community hub in 2027.
Is Instagram a source of inspiration for Northart? Who do you recommend following and why?
For galleries and artists it's a fantastic opportunity to get work out, see others' practices, and connect. I recommend following local artists and galleries to stay up to date with what is going on in the visual arts. We recommend @hollimcentegart.studio to keep up to date on what is coming up at Ngakinga, a yearlong public art project growing natural dye plants. Instagram is so helpful for documenting public sculpture in the outdoor setting of an ever-changing garden.
Which other local businesses or artists do social media well?
Matt Liggins (@matt_liggins) and Dr Foothead (@drdfoothead), who exhibited their exuberant drawing practices at Northart in early January, have energetic and experimental social media presences. I've spent many enjoyable hours exploring their unique practices, which have come together in the collaboration 'Double Poutama'. The artwork merges Liggins's architectural expertise with a physical cube that serves as a portal to a captivating virtual reality world crafted by Dr Foothead. This collaboration culminated in an exhibition here at the gallery and drawing activation in the town centre, and we're looking to continue working with these two artists in the public realm in the coming year so please stay tuned.
Lake House Arts is very active on social media. Always with something happening art-wise (@lakehousearts). Moreno café in Northcote’s socials are lovely. Wonderful coffee and amazing Filipino-inspired cafe food, always great (@moreno.akl)
What’s happening at Northart that you want locals to know about?
Ngakinga is a participatory social sculpture created by Holli McEntegart in collaboration with Charmaine Bailie (Te Uri o Hau – Ngāti Whātua ki Kaipara) and the local community. The project nurtures interconnectedness, collaboration, and ecosystems of care – a living laboratory for taiao, creativity, and natural dyeing practices. Workshops run until the end of March, and everyone is welcome to visit the garden and create hand-dyed fabric artworks.
The community will be tending the garden until the end of March with an exhibition running that month at Northart. Please visit our website for further information and to sign up to free workshops. You can also follow along on Instagram @hollimcentegart.studio to see the garden's journey unfold.
www.northartgallery.net
www.instagram.com/northartnz
1 Ernie Mays Street
Te Kopua o Matakamokamo, Northcote Town Centre
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