ARTSVILLE. 16/09/2007

“Artsville’ this week explores the fascinating world of outsider art in New Zealand, and takes a rare glimpse of Cook Island Tivaevae quilt-making, with stories from three generations of women from the same family, now living in New Zealand.

In 'Brut Force' discover how and why outsider artists Ray Richie, Carmen Brown, Clare Third and Frances Ashton transform their inner thoughts and desires into undiluted and truthful works of outsider art. These artists have no academic art training, yet they were born to create. They feel compelled to make art on their own terms, free from the constraints of critics and the "art world".

Also on tonight's 'Artsville' is 'Tivaevae'. A Cook Island art involving the creation of colourful hand sewed quilts that are gifted to other family members, Tivaevae is a non-commercial, from-the-heart skill that is only carried on by being passed down through generations of Cook Island families. Three Cook Island women, three generations of the same family, now living in New Zealand, attempt to keep the skill of Tivaevae alive in their new country." TVNZ Publicity