Mia Straka
25 November – 16 December, Whau wide
The Valere Talisman Project is an interactive social object project aimed at questioning and re-affirming a universal code of human rights in a climate of rising global xenophobia and mass population movements.
From 25 November – 16 December Mia Straka will be doing pop up activations around the Whau, engaging with visitors in a dialogue addressing a number of values that may be considered globally applicable. Willing participants will be asked to choose a certain value you see as particularly important and relevant to uphold within your own community.
If you decide to be a champion of this value by committing to a specific positive action, she will construct a Valere Talisman pendant stamped with a word(s) symbolising your promise and gift it for you to wear. Fulfilment of the promise will be as decided by each participant, consisting of a simple action such as speaking up in the face of bigotry, helping someone that may be disadvantaged, or something on a more personal level. The pendant will act as a reminder and visual signifier of the commitment, as well as identifying you as an ambassador for the project.
Then what?
Wearers are encouraged to help document the project by taking a photograph of their talisman pendant at the location of the site where their promise was fulfilled and share it on social media with #thetalismanproject in the caption/text and details of what happened.
You can check out results at #thetalismanproject. This site documents and shares the outcomes of the project as well as reaching a wider audience and encouraging ongoing interactions in an online community.
About Mia
Mia Straka graduated with a BDes (hons) from Unitec, Auckland in 2001. Based at collective jewellery studio Workshop6 in Auckland since 2008, Mia exhibits regularly in galleries, public institutions an d arts events across Aotearoa. Work is held in the collection of the James Wallace Arts Trust, (NZ). The Valere Talisman Project is a solo extension leading on from the interactive Talisman Project collaboration. The Valere Talismans extend the wearer/maker discourse with face to face interactions in a series of installations including Melbourne, Whau (2017), Hutt Valley, Berlin (2018) and online engagement at #thetalismanproject.
