8TH + PENN
190 8th Street
ON VIEW
Tīni Tiny Fringe
an international exchange of children’s artwork between Dunedin Fringe (Aotearoa New Zealand) and Radiant Hall
APRIL 15 - MAY 15, 2025
Tamariki (children) from Aotearoa New Zealand
aged 2-12
Nau mai, haere mai! Welcome to Tīni Tiny Fringe, an exhibition of artwork by tamariki (children) that’s come all the way from Aotearoa New Zealand! Tīni Tiny Fringe is part of an international exchange of children’s artwork between Ōtepoti (Dunedin) and Pittsburgh.
In November 2024 Dunedin Fringe, a non-profit arts organisation, exhibited Radiant Small: a show of artwork by young artists aged 2-12 from Pittsburgh. The exhibition was curated by Meta Balko, then 5 years old, and was first shown at Radiant Hall McKees Rocks, Pittsburgh, in July 2024.
Why did Dunedin Fringe – all the way over on the other side of the world – exhibit Radiant Small? Two reasons! First, Radiant Small curator Meta is Fringe Co-Director Ruth Harvey’s “bestest littlest friend” (and Meta’s mom Marina, Executive Director of Radiant Hall, is a bestie too)!
But also, Fringe believes everyone is an artist and we want people to embrace that truth as early as possible in life. Exhibiting work by children is part of our vision for a world where all people embrace art, culture and creativity into their daily lives.
The title of the exhibition includes the te reo Māori word ‘tīni’ (pronounced ‘teeny’), which means ‘lots’: we want lots and lots of young people, tiny or not, to get involved in the arts!
Tīni Tiny Fringe includes 25 artworks by children aged 22 months-12 years that are connected to Dunedin Fringe: the whānau (family) of staff, artists, contractors, peer organisations and collaborators. It also features a collection of work from Te Kōhanga Reo o Whakaari, a total immersion te reo Māori (Māori language) school where whānau (family) work together to revitalise and strengthen te reo Māori and tikanga (customs). Finally, the show celebrates the adults who are supporting young people to become artists in their own right.
