Matariki 2010 at Hangar Frames and Gallery

Toi Te Rito Maihi and Mandy Sunlight celebrate the traditions of Matariki in an installation exhibition at Hangar Frames and Gallery in Kamo.

Matariki is celebrated when the constellation Pleiades is sighted in the Northern sky. Pleiades was a significant point of reference for oceanic travel, the stars being the only constant point for navigational reference in the vast Pacific Ocean. Matariki is the Maori New Year and harvest time.

Toi Te Rito Maihi’s  tribal affiliations are Ngapuhi and Ngati Kahungunu. Toi has a lifetimes experience in weaving, and is highly sought after nationally and overseas for her creative and teaching skills. Her work can be seen in public galleries and museums throughout the country, including Te Papa and the Whangarei Public Library. Toi describes the work created for the Hangar Gallery Matariki exhibition as follows.

“The Matariki exhibition I saw as an opportunity to use the traditional Maori kite forms as drawn by an informant for Sir George Grey. I’ve used them not as an absolute guide, but as a starting point. The diversity shown by the document relates very clearly to that displayed in all other Maori art forms where only the student followed the ‘rules’. Those who had mastered the skills expressed their insights freely - some with great subtlety, others with considerable flamboyance.

These manu have a framework of korari/harakeke/flax, please note that although I am certain all these manu will fly, I am very uncertain as to whether any would survive landing. I consider them to be impractical - purely whimsical indulgences - again.”

Mandy Sunlight is also a weaver of high standing and is soon to travel to London where she is teaching a weaving workshop at the British Museum. Mandy says of her love of weaving,  “ I have a vivid memory as a nine year old of watching a blind Kuia weave. It was the smell of her boiled korari that led to my 25 year relationship with weaving. I used to tutu around with pieces of flax trying to make things and when I was 19 I had my first lesson with Emily Schuster. I have been weaving ever since.

I lived in the south Hokianga for 25 years, and have maintained a love of teaching and passing on my skills with wananga throughout Te Taitokerau. In recent years I have learnt to extract the flax fibre muka. I love the simplicity and complexity of working with korari. Its so versatile !

Together with my daughter Rouati, we make Ahurei weavers, an awesome combination. Korari excites me still and I am never long without it in my hands.”

For the Matariki exhibition Mandy explores the netting, knotting, tying and plaiting techniques to hold, hang and display fruits of the harvest in a suspended installation.

The exhibition opens on Friday 11 June and runs through to Friday 2nd July.