Nau mai, tauti mai for this Matariki-themed workshop with local artist, Dave Austin. Everyone is welcome, Māori and non-Māori, experienced clay workers and complete beginners, WSP members and non-members.
Dave will share the story of Matariki with us and talk about its significance to himself and what it is to feel Matariki as a Māori. He will then guide us in creating our own slab-built Pou.
Pou are traditional Māori posts or pillars that serve as a symbol of strength and support. They may represent important ancestors, depict important cultural stories or events, or serve as markers for significant places or boundaries. Such as the boundary between the past year and the new year.
Once your Pou is constructed, you’ll coat it with black slip and use the sgraffito technique (scratching) to decorate it with whatever imagery you like, imbuing it with your own personal significance.
As the significance of Matariki is often marked by the sharing of a kai it would be great to have lunch together. Bring a kai to share if you have the capacity, or just come and join us and partake in this tradition.
All clay and materials are included in the workshop price, including the bisque firing of your piece.
About Dave:
Kia ora
Graduating with a bachelor of media arts I spent 10 years in the film industry. While working on a short film I was asked to make a painting, this was 1996, which resulted in making oiled canvases to this day. Being creative and trying many types of media I stumbled onto clay about 6 years ago. Like so many before me I was hooked. Engineering shapes, vases, jewellery and finally I found RAKU. The last few years I have been obsessed with making RAKU sculpture and have perfected shapes and firing techniques which are unique and have universal appeal.
I live in the mighty Waikato, Aotearoa New Zealand, I have three wonderful daughters and a special RAKU kiln made out of an old castrol drum. If I could I would fire it everyday because I believe as an artist I should always be making.
Until we meet,
Dave
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