Connect-Conserve-Create
2024-Design Studio Individual
This collection explores the inextricable links between people and place. The connection between our natural environment and humankinds creative spirit and how we can nurture and conserve both for the future. My place is Blueskin Bay, Waitati and woven within it is Orokonui Estuary Walk, coastal tracks of land cleared of native bush and Harekeke during the 1800’s, now regenerating from colonial farmland back to forest. This is my inspiration. A holistic approach was used to manipulate fabric creating timeless silhouettes layered with experimental print, historical photography and handcrafts to communicate this narrative. Ideas are formed through a feminist arts and crafts lens, combining mediums of ceramics, photography, print, dye, embroidery and organic elements
Pepeha Art Dress: Wearable genealogical collage of family photos printed on silk scraps. Ceramic tiles ,clay, grit, foliage from Orokonui track. Bound with Harekeke.
Collaboration with local ceramic artist Kate Fitzharris. Grit, clay, foliage from the area.
Dye with photo negatives and native foliage.
Chatelaine with belt woven from flax, pin disc, embroidered and dyed with tea.
Solar dye native foliage on walk.
Hocken Library historic photos, solar dyed.
Crochet thread reel print on inside pocket and crochet dye on sides of trousers.
Scissors print and crochet dye on the trousers.
Traditional Korean piecing together of silk scraps called Pajogi. Silk sourced from personal stash and friends.
Pieced silk linings of the individual components of the vest.
Images of early Waitati from the Hocken archives.
Native replanting on Orokonui Estuary walk.
Emancipation Suit: Reversible top. Separates printed with hand crochet doilies using solar dye technique. Women's necessities of scissors and thread printed into pockets.
Work in Progress vest. Vest can be unclipped apart into three pieces, for my mothers ongoing embroidery work.
Settlers Dress: Archive Hocken library photos depicting early life of colonialists in Aotearoa. Scanned solar dye prints of fauna and foliage of the Estuary walk. Hand embroidered pieces-pockets can change into sleeve cuffs.
Needle for ongoing work on vintage embroidery.
