Grace Iwashita-Taylor, breathing bloodlines of Samoa, England and Japan. An artist of upu/words led her to the world of performing arts. Dedicated to carving, elevating and holding spaces for storytellers of Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa. Recipient of the CNZ Emerging Pacific Artist Award 2014 and the Auckland Mayoral Writers Grant 2016. Her highlights include holding the visiting international writer in residence at the University of Hawaii 2018, Co-Founder of the first youth poetry slam in Aotearoa, Rising Voices (2011 - 2016) and the South Auckland Poets Collective. She has two published poetry collections, Afakasi Speaks (2013) and Full Broken Bloom (2017) with Ala press.
A love letter to the community as they face down Covid-19, from poet Grace Taylor.
Grace Iwashita-Taylor is a poet, performer and curator of Silo Theatre's UPU.