acts of reverence
I’m creating Kawekaweā, a 12 piece body of work to cloak Hinepūkohurani and Hinenuiitepō; represented as their ritual adornments and tools, influenced from tūpuna and taiao patterns. Im making them from within a 50 metre radius of home. I’ll be making potions from eeeeverything.
Nā kuia o Waikirikiri
Im heavily influenced by my grandmothers: Rangiwaitatao Turuwhenua Noema Whakamoe standing at Toi Kairākau wharenui at Waikirikiri marae, Ruatoki.
Kuia from left to right are: Urupā Tihema, Ngapera Paraki, Reko Natana, Pokorehu Rangiaho, Onewhero Takurua, Rangiwaitatao Noema and Miria Taihakoa.
This image features on Plate 24 of the 1963 publication ‘The New Zealand Maori in Colour’.
Te Kawa o Te Urewera
Kawekaweā as a kaupapa respects and uplifts the Tūhoe environmental plan, Te Kawa o Te Urewera. The main values are:
papatūānuku, mauri, tapu, āhua, tātai, whānau; manuhiri | tānata whenua.
Koro Waha and Grandma Gwenny
Cover image: left to right - Governor general Sir Paul Reeves, Lady Reeves, Grandma Gwendolyn Evans, Koro Waha Noema Whakamoe (Wally Dixon)
Grandma Gwenny handmade all of her elaborate and ostentatious dresses. This one had a very low cut nude beige back omg. She also made all of the dancing costumes that her and Koro wore to win their national ballroom dancing competitions year after year .. Aside from these, Gwenny hand made all their kids clothes and costumes for their never-ending performances with the Napier Operatic Society. Below is her flamenco dancing dress that she used to wear in her 80’s covering her colostomy bag. She got bowel cancer but refused to stop dancing.
Koro Waha, me and Grandma Gwenny in Taradale.
Haumi blankets
Ive been obsessed with learning how to sustainably create eco-dyed natural fibre prints from the taiao. I wear them, trade with them and offer them as a tāwharau for special hāpori haumi’s who sometimes need some extra love.
