Masons Screen is a 24-hour public screen for artists' video. Supported by Wellington City Council and programmed by CIRCUIT, Masons Screen is located off the Terrace and presents a new artwork each month.
Works are programmed from the CIRCUIT collection. In addition, four new works are commissioned each year; three from an open call and a new response to Matariki. To submit your work for Masons Screen write to info@circuit.org.nz.
Current work
Jake Kīano Skinner and Noel Meek, Two Stones | Rua Kōhatu (2024)
Digital Video, Sound
In this film, musicians Jake Kīanō Skinner (Ngāti Rangitihi, Tūhoe) and Noel Meek explore their long-running relationship through a shared musical material, stone. Commonly used in the taonga pūoro that Skinner practices and also within the experimental musical traditions that Meek inhabits, both artists consider the lithic as collaborators and actants in their music.
In their relational approach to stone, the artists look to the strata of history. Hone Tuwhare’s poetry is a key influence, in particular his 'Thoughts On A Sufi Proverb' which is quoted in the film. Further layers are gathered from the pūrākau that describe the formation of Ngā Kohatu Whakarakaraka o Tamatea Pōkai Whenua / The Port Hills, where the film was shot. In one pūrākau, the hills are formed from an act of violence by Māui, who smothers a vanquished giant in stones, and in another, by Tūterakiwhanoa piling up the sweepings of the Canterbury Plains. The music created by Skinner and Meek reflects these accumulations of history and mythology in the landscape, of stone upon stone.
Commissioned by CIRCUIT and Wellington City Council.
Noel Meek (Pākehā) and Jake Kīanō Skinner (Ngāti Rangitihi, Tūhoe) are based in Ōtautahi Christchurch.
Two Stones | Rua Kōhatu continues until 22 April 2024.
Previous works
(note * indicates work was commissioned by CIRCUIT and Wellington City Council)
2024
The Observatory Project, Non-standard measures* (2023)
Bronwyn Holloway-Smith, Bledisloe Bebop (2020)
2023
Hiona Henare, THEY AIN'T WOKE YET (2023)
Keri-Mei Zagrobelna, Te Pito (2023)
Hana Pera Aoake, I saw the mountain erupt* (2023)
Leala Faleseuga, Vessel: Dissolution | It's in the milk* (2023)
Matthew Cowan and Jana Müller, Background Scenes* (2023)
2022
Xi Li, Prosperity or Emptiness* (2022)
Cat Auburn, Crying Cliffs (2010)
Richard Frater, Sweet Apparition (2008)
Yona Lee, Propositions (2021)
Arapeta, Te Orokoomaa (2022)
Suzanne Tamaki, Manu does Matariki (2022)
Bruce Barber, Spectres of Marx (2015)
Sione Faletau, Kupesi o Masons Screen (2022)
Jamie Berry, Wai whakaika (2022)
Gabriel White, Scenic Journey (2022)
Louie Zalk-Neale, Mana tipua tuku iho - Transcestor (2022)
2021
James R Ford, Infinite Monkey Syndrome (2012)
Jae Hoon Lee, A Leaf (2003)
Louisa Afoa, Pink Flamingo (2016)
Phil Dadson, Am I Dreaming? (2020)
David Cowlard, Béton Brut (2015)
Kauri Wharewera, Te Kahui o Matariki* (2021)
Steve Carr, Watermelon (2015)
Julia Holden, #LunaMeditates (2020)
Brit Bunkley, Downbreak on 1, Upbeat on 2 (2013)
Sarah Hudson, Harirū (2018)
Annie Bradley, The Sea in Us* (2021)
Theo Macdonald, Waterfall Confessional* (2020)
2020
Layne Waerea, Uninvited Visitor (2020)*
Martin Awa Clarke Langdon and Rebecca Ann Hobbs, Maungataketake (2019)
Brydee Rood, Everything Rises (2020)
Darcell Apelu, To Secure My Place I Must Leave (2019)
Tanya Te Miringa Te Rorarangi Ruka (Ngati Pakau, Ngapuhi) Kōhatu Tipua (Supernatural Stones) (2020)
Tom Hinton, Self-raising Sea (2019)
Arapeta Ashton & Wai Ching Chan, Pātai/Maan Taai問題 (2019)
Emma Wallbanks, MERCURIAL (2019)
Max Fleury and Bena Jackson, One who goes quickly (2019)*
Rangituhia Hollis, Across the face of the moon (2019)*
2019
Rachel O'Neill, Not My Autobiography? (2019)*
Jamie Berry (Te Aitanga a Māhaki, Rongowhakaata, Ngāti Porou, Ngā Puhi); Pikihuia Haenga (Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Toa, Ngātoi Porou); Leala Faleseuga (Samoan/Salelologa, Dutch); Breaking the Glass Ceiling (2018)
Florence Wild, Cast Movements: Leitmotif (2017)
Layne Waerea, Māori Lane: Oct 08, 2012 (2012)
Ziggy Lever, Beam Splitting (2017)
Clinton Watkins, Feedback (2010)
Judy Darragh, Tunnel of Love (2003)
Kate Walker, Cloudship (2018)
Bent, art for no-one (2014)
John Chrisstoffels, Ritornello (2018)
Miranda Bellamy, Drip, release, in complete memory (2018)*
2018
Talia Smith, The light between two points (2018)*
Martin Rumsby, SOJOURNS (2018)*
Dilohana Lekamge, Pilot - Gilmore Girls: Season 1, Episode 1 (2018)
Elisabeth Pointon, A Guide To: Effective Implementation of Self-service (2017)
Aydriannah Tuiali'i, Kōwhai (2017)
James Oram, Wallpaper (2012)
Sam Hamilton, More of less rubbish (2017)
Sandy Gibbs, Lighting an Old Flame (2017)
Mark Harvey, Let's Go! (2017)
Claire Harris, Beseated (2016)
Christina Read, The Brain My Brain (2016)
Lara Lindsay-Parker, Sad @ the beach (2017)
2017
Matilda Fraser, The Eight Hours Plan (2017)*
Guillaume Cailleau, Funktionslust (2017)*
Ana Iti, All the way to Te Rerenga Wairua (2017)*
Sriwhana Spong, Learning Duets (2012) / Beach Study (2012)
Melissa Irving, being-(t)here (2012)
Robyn Jordaan, The Present Continuous (2016)
Mike Ting, Kind of Blue (2016)
Sam Norton, Untitled 3 (2015)
Aliyah Winter, Eli Jenkins Prayer (2015)
Hugh Chesterman, i am who i am (who am i?) (2016)
Chris Ulutupu, Ladies (2016)
2016
Kate Woods, Water Feature (2016)*
Mike Heynes, Location!... location? (2016)*
Sarah Jane Parton, The Best Trick (Everyone Smiles at Hotel Smile) (2016)*
Bridget Reweti, Mana Tū, Mana Toa, Mana Ake Ake (2015)
Gabrielle Amodeo, Slow and mournfully; slow and sad; slow and solemnly (2013)
Caroline Johnston, Songs about PLEASE REMOVE (2014)
Heather Hayward, Les Mills Gym (2014)
Erica Sklenars, Popsicle (2011)
Jordana Bragg, How to water the roses (3) (2015)
Laura Duffy, Food fat insanity (2015)
Terry Urbahn, Don't Die Until Later (2013)
Denise Batchelor, Stranded (2015)
Submitting your work to Masons Screen
To send submissions of existing works, please contact Mark Williams, director@circuit.org.nz. Works must be by New Zealand or New Zealand-based artists. In submitting your work please consider the nature of public space.
Please send an online link with your submission, plus a synopsis and a short bio.
Site history
According to a 1913 letter to the Evening Post newspaper, 'Mason's Steps' were named after Mr William Frederick Mason, who arrived in Wellington in 1842 and ran a blacksmith's shop at the back of the site. "In those days... there was nothing more than a rough track through the manuka scrub."
Then, as now, the Lane was used as a short cut from Lambton Quay to the Terrace. In 2019, the Lane is more likely to be a passageway for morning commuters and lunchtime office workers seeking a quick bite before they return to work.