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Harakeke (New Zealand flax, or Phormium tenax) is the plant at the heart of Māori weaving. This introductory one-day workshop with expert weaver Bernadette.
"As a Raranga (weaving) Artist, Harakeke (flax) is the medium I use for the majority of my work. Its versatility, ease of use and the connection it provides to our Whenua, makes it a pleasure to work with, both in a physical and spiritual sense”.
Bernadette won the Māori Art Award at the recent Hibiscus and Bays Art Awards held at Estuary Arts Centre. Bernadette was born in South Auckland on a Dairy farm; she was 1 of 9 siblings. Growing up on the farm taught her a huge respect for the land, the bush, the rivers and sea. These early experiences led her to a landscape gardening career after a brief period of office work. Physical injury meant by the time she was 50, a permanent change of direction was required and a subsequent enrolment into Te Wananga o Aotearoa. What followed was a wonderful 4 years of learning the Art of Raranga (Flax Weaving). The influence of tutor, Bibbins Tangitua in her work is clear. Bibbins was a master of Porohita and Kete. While doing her Maunga Kura Toi - Bachelor of Maori Art, she was guided by the skilful weaver, Rawhinnia Gray.
Bernie won the Harcourts Art Challenge in January 2020 , and the Wearable Art Aotearoa section in Coromandel in 2014. In 2019 she was involved in the Star Waka installation for the Tuia Celebrations in Whitianga. The wonderful Philippa Stichbury will be co-tutor for the day.
Current EAC members will receive 10% discount.
To learn more about becoming a member click here.
All materials will be provided.