Enroll Now for CES Weaving Workshop 2012

 

Two Sessions

Start:     TBA

Finish:  TBA

 Time 11am – 4pm

$95.00

Subsidised by Creative Communities Scheme Whanganui

Anyone can learn to weave. Raranga is a traditional Maori way of weaving. Raranga harakeke is the weaving of flax. This workshop teaches the basics of weaving in a safe and warm environment. It provides a time for the self to experience the learning of a traditional art, in a small group. You can learn all the basics of processing and make several pieces over two days. Its a  good way to get away for a weekend and chill out. Learn to make simple items suitable for gifts, or practical items for your home.

Enroll  Now

Call Rosemary 06 345 4717  

info@wanganuices.org.nz

 http://www.wanganuices.org.nz 

Venue:  

 MT ST JOSEPH’S RETREAT CENTRE WHANGANUI

14 HILLSIDE CRESENT WHANGANUI

Mt St Josephs’s Retreat Centre is located on a landscaped site overlooking Whanganui City. It has panoramic  views to Mt Ruapehu and the beautiful Whanganui River. There is a walkway through the gardens and a pa harakeke featuring the Renee Orchiston  harakeke Collection. The centre has accomodation and full facilities available.

Class outline for  workshop 

* To familiarize the learner with the basics of collecting & processing harakeke/flax ready for weaving by practical application.

 * An opportunity for those with some skill already to revise. 

 * Learn the basics of flax weaving

 

Day one:

Learn to make kono/ four cornered basket. He konai / two cornered basket.

Weave a whariki (small mat) 

 Day two:

Learn to make kete and plaited straps.

 Learn to make waikawa/ no process storage basket.

Harakeke / flax both prepared, and unprepared will be available.

Learn the Basics

Learn about collecting harakeke and the different varieties.

•    Learn how to cut strip and process harakeke/flax.
•    Take your weaving  home.

 Essential things for a weaving kit to bring with you to start with:

• large sheet clear plastic for wrapping flax in

• sharp knife for cutting flax from plant

• A dozen spring clothes pegs

 • A rigid handle putty knife

• Sharp scissors

 • med crochet hook

• Feathers or paua pieces for decorating.

           

Tutor Mere Keating

 

Sydney Weaving Workshops for 2012

Tutor Mere Keating

Learn to weave for yourself –  Flax Weaving 

 Email: meremade@flaxweaving.co.nz

 

Click here for more detail

Create your own Weekend Weaving Workshop at Mt St Joseph’s Retreat Centre Whanganui

                                                              Tutor: Mere Keating

Anyone can learn to weave. Raranga is a traditional Maori way of weaving. Raranga harakeke is the weaving of flax. This workshop teaches the basics of weaving in a safe and warm environment.

It provides a time for the self to experience the learning of a traditional art, in a small group. You can learn all the basics of processing and make several pieces over two days. Its a  good way to get away for a weekend and chill out.

Learn to make simple items, for gifts or for your home.

A Weaving workshop can be easily organised with a group of friends or work colleagues. This could be a two day Sat- Sun or just one day, 10am -4pm.

Arangements can be made for other options.  meremade@flaxweaving.co.nz

Venue

MT ST JOSEPH’S RETREAT CENTRE WHANGANUi

14 HILLSIDE CRESENT WHANGANUI

Mt St Josephs’s Retreat Centre is located on a landscaped site overlooking Whanganui City. It has panoramic  views to Mt Ruapehu and the beautiful Whanganui River. There is a walkway through the gardens and a pa harakeke featuring the Renee Orchiston  harakeke Collection.

The centre has  full facilities and overnight  accomodation is  available.

Meremade Workshop outline:

Aims

* To familiarize the learner with the basics of collecting & processing harakeke/flax ready for weaving by practical application.

* An opportunity for those with some skill already to revise. You can learn to make a hat/potae.

* Learn the basics of flax weaving

    

Learn to make kono/ four cornered basket. He kono / two cornered basket.

You can learn  to make unique gift baskets. Learn to make kete and plaited straps. Learn to make waikawa/ no process storage basket. Learn to make puti puti/roses ,tulips or lily.

Harakeke / flax both prepared, and unprepared will be available.

 Learn the Basics

•    Learn about collecting harakeke and the different varieties.
•    Learn how to cut strip and process harakeke/flax.
•    Take your weaving  home.

 Essential things for a weaving kit to bring with you to start with:

• large sheet clear plastic for wrapping flax in

• sharp knife for cutting flax from plant

• A dozen spring clothes pegs

• A rigid handle putty knife {traditionally a mussell shell is used

• Sharp scissors

• large crochet hook

• large needle

• Feathers or paua pieces for decorating

 Fees per person:

12hr workshop over two full days$160.00

Enquiries: meremade@flaxweaving.co.nz

or  register your  interest in having a  workshop in comment box .

Weaving Sydneyside May- June 2010

Collecting flax in Sydney is something of a mission, especially when its been raining cats and dogs for three weeks. Finally the sun comes out and before the next downpour we pick flax.

Four weavers attended a small workshop at Dulwich Hill. They made rourou, kono, waikawa and whariki. It was lovely korero about being Maori in Australia and the hunger to learn and know about raranga harakeke and te reo.

Its the Biennale in Sydney until August. Its all free and if you have time well worth the effort to go to the many exhibitions  on at the MCA & Cockatoo Island,Opera House Botanic Gardens , Artspace and Art gallery  NSW.

Sydney Dulwich Hill School Indigenous Week

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 Children at Dulwich Hill School in Sydney learnt  about Maori Flax Weaving. It was Indigenous week and there were a number of Aboriginal activities taking place too. The children were very interested and enthusiastic so after talk and discussion we set about weaving  snakes,  which as you see in the pictures were worn as headbands. It was a lot of fun and it was great to be able to pass on my knowledge about raranga harakeke. One hundred and fifty, children took part in the 40min workshops over two days. The flax was collected locally. The school is considering planting their own ” pa harakeke” flax garden in the future.

"snakes alive"

 Dulwich Hill School Ethos

The Values which guide our work are:

Care, Learning, Responsibility, Belonging, Respect, Action, Equity, Balance, Empowerment.

The Essential Competencies we aim to develop in every child are:

Social Responsibility, Metacognition, Critical Thinking, Organising, Communicating

Sydney ParraMATariki workshops May 2010

Pacific Princess

In May 2010, I  attended a series of workshops at Parramatta Artists Studio with  artists Maureen Lander and Keren Ruki.

We made gods eye and small mats and rourou/ small food basket. I learned some new weaving techniques and was introduced to the idea of weaving non traditional materials. We were interviewed each day to contribute to the Stories from across the Sea. Items made were added to the ParraMATariki Exhibition.

The exhibition opens on Friday June 4th to the 3rd September and will herald the rising of the Pleiades cluster of stars (Matariki) that mark the beginning of the new year in the southern hemisphere. It will feature a large festive installation and include small mat samples made by participants in the workshops.

I was not present for the opening but Lauren Peri was and she wrote to me:

“”The opening of the Parramatariki went great. the little studio was packed wall to wall, and everyone was happy and proud of what was happening. There was an aboriginal smoking ceremony at the start, a cleansing thing (burning of green gum leaves in a bucket, carried from room to room). Then the aboriginal elder acknowledged us and welcomed us to  their ‘country’ their piece of land, stating his tribe, speaking for his people. The mayor said his thing and then Kiri, Keren and Maureen spoke, thanking different ones. One of the local kaumatuas there spoke in maori for us and it kind of finished the speeches off. There was quite a few islanders there, it was just a really great atmosphere, one of love – bringing us closer to home and each other – like one big whanau! thats what it was like! 
The displays looked fantastic and to think it all started out humbly in that room in the town hall. It had the right feeling too, which was really noticeable. Its started something in me, its a bit exciting when youre weaving away and it takes shape and its beautiful and maori!.” 

  

Maureen Lander is a multi-media installation artist who has exhibited locally, nationally and internationally since 1986.  Since her retirement in 2007 she has continued to make and exhibit her artwork, drawing inspiration from Maori feather and fibre arts and from the contexts in which she makes her installations. 

 

 Keren Ruki is a Sydney-based artist of Maori and European descent. Her tribal affiliations are to Ngati Maniapoto, Tuwharetoa and Ngati Mahanga. Keren has lived in Australia since 1975, and has a history of involvement with Pacific arts and cultural practices in NSW.   Keren’s practice as an artist stems from the weaving traditions of her people. In 2004 Keren was recipient of the NSW Ministry for the Arts Western Sydney Artist’s Fellowship for which she created a Trans-Tasman Kahu kuri (Maori dog skin Cloak). She is currently undertaking a Masters in Museums and Collections at ANU.

Art Deco New Harakeke/Flax Raranga/Woven Potae/Hats

 

 

Decovia Art & Vintage Clothing Sale

Ladies, Gents and Childrens’ vintage clothing. reproduction clothing , accessories and collectibles.

 

Available now for purchase. Meremade Potae/ flax hats. Handmade these finely woven flax hats are individually dyed and styled especially for Napier Art Deco Celebrations 2010.

Contact: meremade@flaxweaving.co.nz

Elle, is selling  a range of vintage clothing she has collected in Australia and New Zealand over the past 20 years. Those who know Elle, know she has great style and panache when it comes to collecting vintage.

Contact: decovia@gmail.com

 

Flax Weaving Workshop:

Whanganui Artists Open Studios Weaving Workshop

Venue         St Mary’s Marae Wicksteed Street Whanganui

                     Tuesday 23rd March 10am -3pm

Call 063422920 or email 

merekeating@gmail.com

Class outline for  workshop  was run in conjunction with the Whanganui Artists Open Studios.

Aims

* To familiarize the learner with the basics of collecting & processing harakeke/flax ready for weaving by practical application.

* An opportunity for those with some skill already to revise

* Learn the basics of flax weaving

The focus of this workshop was  making kono.

The workshop had 6 participants and each made up to three kono each. The St Mary’s venue was excellent. Our hostess  there was Anne Murray who provided refreshments for us. Many thanks to Whanganui Artists Open Studio for assistance in funding this workshop

Whanganui Artists Open Studios March 20th – 28th 2010

Mangamahu from the Maunga

March 2oth to 28th 2010

Open Studio at Mangamahu Hotel

 1 Creek Road

 Mangamahu Village 

 

Phone 063422920 refreshments available or byo picnic open 11am till late everyday

  ART RARANGA HARAKEKE FLAX PAPER CERAMICS POTTERY PHOTOGRAPHY POETRY   

Don’t feel you’ve failed geography if you don’t know where Mangamahu is.   

For flax weaver Mere Keating distance is harmonic. Based at Mangamahu; on a flight path, geographical co-ordinates; 39 degrees 49’ 0” South 175 degrees 22’ 0” East. The old hotel is sited under the Milky Way.   

Closed as a pub in 1974, these days it is an artists’ hotel. Overnight accommodation and refreshments are available on enquiry.   

50km from Wanganui by road, the relative rural isolation and the beauty of the Mangamahu valley is a constant source of inspiration. A widely respected photographer and harekeke artist Mere’s work is owned and exhibited worldwide.   

“We came here in 1975, with a young family and other artist friends. It has been a haven for many artists throughout the years, including *Phillip Clairmont.  The “Mangamahu Flying Hotel Exhibitions created by *Blerta” buddies” Robin White & Fane Flaws, were the original vehicle for selling our artworks. The first one was at Susie Moncrieff’s Gallery in Nelson, then the Hastings Cultural centre, and later other venues throughout NZ. Even then the matter of space and distance was a huge focus of the work produced. We even charted an airplane to transport the exhibitions and ourselves.”   

  

“The Sargeant Art Gallery, the Museum, the Design & Art School combine to cultivate a strong arts community. Local iwi and Maori Artists uphold the mana of the Whanganui River and local initiatives such as the Whanganui River Traders Market held every Saturday and the annual Open Studio events make Whanganui unique to artists.”   

This March 20th – 28th 2010  we have visiting artists Heather & Graham Baskiville-Robinson from Mahau Sound in the South Island .  

Heather is a Fibre Artist, Printmaker, Papermaker – member of IAPMA – International Association of Hand Papermakers and Paper Artists. Graham is a ceramics artist.  

   

Heather Baskiville

“Paper has shared the human journey for thousands of years as an ancient tool for retaining memory and knowledge to enhance our existence.  We all make marks – on others, on the environment and on ourselves.  My work is about the exploration of making marks and images through paper and natural fibre.”  

   

Work by Ceramic Artist Graham Baskiville – Robinson   

“In the depths of the heart from which pottery springs flows a crystal clear stream reflecting nearby mountains”   

-Rosanjin Kitaoji   

   

Harakeke Potae / Flax Hats

 

A flax hat is sun safe. Flax has protective properties that assist in preventing sun burn.

Potae / hats are available in any colour  ready to wear or custom made.

Natural or coloured hat

Sun Visor half brim natural or coloured

Sun visor full brim natural or coloured

 

“If the Hat Fits Then Wear it.”

Delivery 5-10 days.

Email merekeating@gmail.com

Natural flax hat

Louisiana Style

Top Hat & Provencal Style Hat

Colour & Pattern Top Hat

Flax sun visor

Black Top Hat

Harakeke Potae

Hat trimmers