The second tapestry of our TOWN BASIN – our history series reflects the early times based on history research and documented by Whangarei District Council, Mim Ringer (local Historian) Northland Regional Council, Te Papa Wellington, Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand, Tamoko Studio and Maori arts, New Zealand.
The
artwork reflects the Colonial settlement of the 1880’s and incorporates a
blending of the two cultures, Maori and European based on the images and
history gathered by Project Manager, Julia and as with the Pre-European panel fellow member/artist of The Bach, Heather
Carthew created the visual concept for the weavers to follow.
The painting encapsulates symbolic aspects of both cultures and embraces the central panel - a visual impression of colonization at the Town Basin in the late 1800's.
We are working the next panel on the same set of warps as the first one and commenced weaving the hem in July.
Marking the Kaokao pattern in preparation of starting the boarder.
We also have a new community project idea! Our complimentary panels on either side of the central panel, called Harmony Tapestries have been set up to encourage novices who would like to try weaving but do not feel confident working on our Town Basin series.
If you live in Whangarei or you are visiting call in to The Bach Artisan's Gallery and have a go at weaving!
The new tapestry projects have revived interest in weaving.
Arohuni Harris from the mid-north enjoyed participating in some weaving.
AUGUST 2019
Joanna Sanderson from Silverdale, Auckland enjoyed learning to weave.
She thought the weaving was a great community project.
AUGUST 2019
Lena Nicholas (13) from Worthing, England said weaving was really fun and she very much enjoyed it.
Lena was excited to be able to learn a new skill
Little hands working on the children's looms.
Naoko our chief weaver was on hand to help when needed.
SEPTEMBER 2019
Carla Millard from Kumeu, Auckland said it was good to see the tapestry weaving is continuing. She contributed to the Whangarei - Love it here tapestry while it was being woven.
As a tapestry weaver herself she thought it was "wonderful to have this community project for everyone to see and participate in!"
OCTOBER 2019
Bella Tissink (12),from Whangarei had fun doing weaving.
Bella's brother Xander (9) was content to just watch.
Tara and her daughter Abbey from Palmerston North were both keen to try weaving.
Abbey and her sister, Emily are both home-schooled.
Showing Emily how to make weft hills.
Weft hills are a loose woven row that you pack down one part at a time, forming hills that get smaller and smaller until all the weft is pushed down against the previous row. This allows you to keep a good tension that doesn’t pull on the end warp threads.
More to follow....
