UPPER HUTT HEROES

14 May - 10 July 2016

Upper Hutt City celebrates its Golden Jubilee in May this year: 50 years since being declared a city. To commemorate this anniversary Expressions Whirinaki Arts and Entertainment Centre puts the spotlight on 50 of Upper Hutt's finest Heroes in an exhibition celebrating 50 Heroes from the last 50 years: Upper Hutt Heroes.

Upper Hutt Heroes will feature 50 Upper Hutt Heroes, one for every year from 1966 (when Upper Hutt was declared a City) to 2016. It is hoped that these heroes will range from sporting, cultural, musical and artistic, to educational, military and political heroes, those from the business world, inventors, conservationists and scientists, doctors and nurses ... etc and include a range of ages from the young to those that have since passed away. The aim of the exhibition is to not only celebrate some of the personalities and high achievers and send a message that New Zealand's smallest city can produce some great Heroes.

Some of the local Heroes already identified include obvious choices such as All Black Cory Jane and Wayne Mason the musician that wrote the song 'Nature' (voted New Zealand's best song). However, it is also hoped that the exhibition may also include some lesser known and more surprising Heroes. Expressions Whirirnaki is calling for people from the Upper Hutt community to let them know what other Heroes from Upper Hutt are out there. People are encouraged to email their suggestions of an Upper Hutt Hero to upperhutthero@expressions.org.nz or phone (04) 527 2168 to put forward their suggestions. In addition, there will also be the opportunity within the exhibition where people can nominate their own Upper Hutt Hero on a 'Hero Wall' to ensure that every Hero gets acknowledged, from the local teacher to the dedicated Grandfather.

Supporting the exhibition is a teacher's resource booklet and education programme running at the gallery so that local schools can visit. In conjunction with the exhibition Expressions Whirinaki is also presenting a Golden Jubilee Ball to be held on 11 June, which will be in the time and era of a 1960's Civic Ball.

 

 


HEROES IN THE HOUSE

Sunday 22 May 2016 | 1pm

Meet some of the Upper Hutt Heroes in this open afternoon in the exhibition.

 


GOLDEN JUBILEE BALL

Saturday 11 June 2016 | 7pm

Commemorate Upper Hutt City's status with a night out at a glittering and glamorous ball.

More info...