SaltWood at the Kūaotunu Hall

The Kūaotunu Art Trail map is moving significantly closer to its official launch later this year, with an evening of community music scheduled to kickstart vital fundraising efforts. On the evening of Saturday, 22 August, the historic Kūaotunu Hall will resonate with the warm sounds of strings and voices as local musical duo SaltWood takes the stage. Combining the talents of multi-instrumentalists Len Salt our former TCDC Mayor and Anna Dunwoodie a globally recognised harpist and a prolific composer, the group blends guitar, bass, harp, and vocals into an engaging performance spanning folk, acoustic, and jazzy contemporary styles. “We are absolutely delighted to welcome SaltWood to the Kūaotunu Hall for this wonderful cause,” says local arts advocate Isabel Gilbert Palmer. “Having Len and Anna share their incredible music is the perfect first step in raising funds for the art trail. Their performance embodies the collaborative spirit of our Coromandel creative community.” Since the initial project proposal earlier this year, the community’s vision has expanded to include 25 identifiable trail sites. These locations encompass everything from the significant Harakeke Library planting in Otama to the custom- built, user-friendly platforms showcasing original outdoor glass paintings of the islands in Kūaotunu Bay. The trail aims to give residents and visitors alike a new way to explore the local village, dunes, and surrounding neighbourhoods whilst connecting deeply with local social history. Local historical, sculptural, memorial, and significant markers along the route are currently being sketched out. These sketches will serve as the preparation for a hand-painted wall mural, which will be fixed in a prominent, easy-to-find location to anchor the trail.