Our suitcase, our roots 2007

SummaryTauranga Regional Multicultural Council held this event on 18-28 October 2007

Main BodyThis exhibition was run during an Art Festival in Tauranga and we have been given an empty upstairs office on the corner of Spring Street and The Strand to use.

We use one large space to display all exhibits presenting stories of people who immigrated to Tauranga and their “treasures” - the items that they brought with them from their countries of origin in their suitcases.

There were traditional costumes, jewellery, musical instruments, cups, plates, books, even a stuffed lama. Central point for the exhibition was taken by a display of old photos of the people taken when they were still in their country.

A smaller room was our activity room with running videos of various countries as well as special activities for visitors.

We have had a Greek day with a chance to learn various Greek dances, a Thai Day with a beautiful display of carved fruit and vegetables and a chance to meet a master carver of the royal court of Thailand try who was showing the tricks of the craft. A beautifully dresses dancer danced in the room and on the Red Square to the delight of the passersby;

On Ecuador Day we have a beautiful pipe music played again in the street. Italian Day was more about meeting people, tasting Italian food and a bit of music. The exhibition was a great focus for the various groups and individuals to get together and create a memorable event. We would not have been able to create the exhibition if not for the great support of staff of Tauranga museum, who lent us their exhibition cases and mannequins, the Tuaranga Gallery for help with labelling, Creative Tuaranga for help with poster, contacts and moral support and for Lighting Direct for the use of their display boxes and the Real estate agent who let us use the space without charge.

And our effort has been recognized by the Human Rights Commission and Joris de Bres, Race Relations Commissioner, who sent us a congratulatory certificate for the exhibition. We all are very proud of that recognition.

This event was well attended by local people, many visitors from out of town and school groups. There was a gold coin donation to visit the exhibition. We have had a visitor's book displayed, where people could write their names and comments, and this book gave us some indication of the numbers attending. The highest number of visitors was on first Sunday at 147, and it varied over the following 9 days between 30 and 90 a day.

Photographs