Elaine Bevan - Weaver at MAORI MARKet
A deep love and feel for the ancient ways of weaving and dying is inspiration for Maori artist Elaine Bevan, of Te Waananga O Raukawa, in Otaki...
MAORI MARKet Media Resource (April 2007)
Elaine Bevan - Te Waananga o Raukawa (Otaki)
A deep love and feel for the ancient ways of weaving and dying is inspiration for Maori artist Elaine Bevan, of Te Waananga O Raukawa, in Otaki.
Next month in Wellington, the public will have a unique opportunity to see and purchase artworks of the indigenous people of New Zealand and North America at the inaugural MAORI MARKet.
One of Elaine’s creations to be exhibited at MAORI MARKet is a stunningly beautiful whatu or woven cape. It features pheasant feathers and houheria (fine lace bark) which is looped and plaited to create a border of ruffles and roses at the collar of the fine flax stole. Elaine used natural dye made from mud, boiled up with a native plant to give it colour and hold; made in just the same way her ancestors created and coloured their garments hundreds of years ago.
“I used to use commercial dyes. I love the colours of contemporary pieces that commercial dyes produce. But I became drawn to experiment with natural dyes of the past,” said Elaine.
“I just love the ancient ways. I am inspired by the old pieces and I felt moved to work with them. I kept thinking, how can I be creative with the limitations of the natural methods.”
Elaine’s whatu, a living artwork that skilfully blends ancient practices with a contemporary twist is an example of the beauty and uniqueness Maori art has to offer. And this no doubt is the reason off shore art collectors are paying tens of thousands of dollars for pieces such as this.
Elaine is a tutor at Te Waananga O Raukawa in Otaki, a learning and teaching place for Maori artists, carvers and weavers. Students and tutors from the Waananga will be exhibiting works at MAORI MARKet.
ENDS