Maori Art by Augustus Hamilton

After extensive searching, I found and purchased my "diamond" book!!! Maori Art by Augustus Hamilton is an outstanding work, first published in 1901 and deals with all aspects of Maori material, culture and life.

I found it in New York, had it shipped over and have found it to be the most comprehensive information I have read on Maori humanity at that time. The pictures are beautiful, true to life images of people, art, artefacts etc.  

I have many books on the art of the Maori, but only this one deals with everything else....amusements, burial customs, canoes, carving, ceremonial, communal, fortifications, games, garments, geneological, houses, hunting, implements, music, adornment, social, utensils, war and weapons of war. Oh, and don't ask to borrow it.......my response may be offensive!!!! Hahaha!!

Pitau a Manaia

I am gradually increasing the size of my paintings and enjoying the challenge.  This piece is "Pitau a Manaia" and relates to the manaia image used a lot in maori carving (whakairo).  The manaia is a spiritual guardian.  I have only used a part of the pattern and the description of it is "the embroynic state in the womb, represented by the circular shapes or "kape" at the top of the pattern.

It is 60.9cm by 121.8cm.

Art space

My favourite colours.......rusty, earthy orange/brown.

Closeup!

Very cluttered, untidy and well used.....!!!  Sometimes cold too.....this is our garage/studio!

New art!

I like this triptych........it has a kind of "vertigris" look to it!

In preparation for the markets tomorrow, I have been putting finishing touches on my art....framing tape to neaten the back and d-hooks for hanging.  I was also able to produce a rusty "Ngutu Kura" piece which I am very happy with, as the other pieces were very dark and I wanted a lighter, earth tone colour in this series.  I also got my delivery from Queensland........my huge canvases and my 12 pots of medium.  Finally!  

Rons work.....my wonderful business cards

The first business cards were for the Blue Palm tree markets and included a card for both  Jodiene Tovia and I (Feijoa Arts).  Jodiene sold homewares that complimented my work, assisting those who wanted art work, but didn't know how to incorporate it into their homes.  Hence, she provided candles, baskets, lamps, vases and other items to bring everything together.

The last two cards are the current cards, which include my latest art on them.  He also designed a pamphlet to be attached to the paintings, with description and my statement included in it.  So I have my new camera and still trying to get the hang of it......so the photos have the "fish eye lens."  I don't know how that was put on!!!

Te Wairua Tapu Exhibition

After hearing about an exhibition featuring Maori artists in Redfern, NSW, at Te Wairua Tapu Church, I immediately enquired as to whether I could exhibit as well, seizing an opportunity to "put my art out there" especially amongst my people.  Luckily, they had sufficient space for my art and I took a number of pieces into the church the day of the opening, Friday 24 May, 2008.  I took my daughter, Galilee, to introduce her to the art culture and expose to the art world.  I enjoyed talking to various artists and viewing the work on display.  I spoke to a wonderful, most generous Aboriginal artist, Matthew Stewart, who had beautiful prints on exhibit, and who, after I showed interest in his work, offered my one of his prints!  I had dabbled in printmaking while at high school in NZ, and thoroughly enjoyed it, and upon talking to Matthew, this sparked my interest in it once again.  

Art post 2000 to the present

    

I have produced some commissioned work since 2005.  The first being for a wedding, which was a huge painting representing the family involved.  I do enjoy commissioned work, and it is an opportunity to develop relationships, provide a personal art piece and push my boundaries, as there is obviously a deadline.  

Last year I was again commissioned to do another "family" piece, which was taken from a carving, created by the husband to represent his family.  This again was on a fairly large scale, more panoramic however, which I again enjoyed.  The family were very pleased with the completed piece and I was able once again, to provide a personal piece for the recipient, which brings me a lot of satisfaction.  

I have been asked by the former, to produce another piece due to the expansion of their family!  I am again very happy to do this and am working, alongside my husband Ronald, to produce a unique design to portray this family, who incidentally live in NZ.

My other works, I have been selling via a Pacific Market in Homebush, NSW and will continue to do so from next week.  

Art pre-2000

Art which I am considering producing as canvas prints!

ART

WE HAVE LEFT THE CORPORATE WORLD (TOUCH WOOD WE DON'T ENTER BACK INTO IT AGAIN) AND DOING WHAT WE LOVE!  Ron (my husband) is a graphic artist and myself, a contemporary artist.  Since leaving NZ where Ron got his diploma of Visual arts and Design, we then decided to just find work and then go from there, hoping our art would manifest itself in the near future.  So, four children later, the desire to pursue our art has overcome working a job where there was little job satisfaction.

So it has been fairly busy.  Living in Australia creates a demand for Maori art as most New Zealanders living here are wanting a representation from their homeland, which is something I am willing to provide.  

Ron however, would love to upgrade his skills, something we are going to be doing in the next few months.  He wants to explore web design and t-shirt design.  He currently designs my business cards and pamphlets.  

Where my art is predominantly cultural, Rons abilities cover a broad range of media. He has designed business cards, pamphlets, invitations (both wedding and other special occasions) and dabbles in wood and other craft.

My art currently heads two catergories.  The first is my oldest technique and most expressive, which uses the Maori carved figures in various ways.  The colours are vibrant, technique is expressive and very much contemporary.  The second, is a more traditional yet a somewhat modern twist on the kowhaiwhai patterns.  The paintings are heavily textured with the patterns "almost" carved out from the painting to give a "tattoo" feel on canvas. I am not an advocate of tattooing, however, I very much adore the designs of various Ta Moko.