Wondering Earth

This image popped up as a memory. Five years ago today I was on a train journey from Vancouver to Portland Oregon to see my friend Wendy. This was the view out my window. I had just left my friend @aarluk having spent the last week with her at @isea_official 2015 speaking at the Indigenous art forum as well as catching up about our Walking in Circles project in between laughs, eating traditional Inuit food, getting lost, seeing Aotearoa and global friends, visiting the mountains, swimming and seeing beautiful art. It was this journey that I was supported by many to get me to Vancouver and Dan Budnik (previous post) was a big part of that, so perfect timing for this to appear as a memory today. Rest in Peace dear Dan. #danbudnik https://www.instagram.com/p/CEOCrHfs3W4/?igshid=17j4105quewgl

This morning I received news that my dear friend Dan Budnik had passed away last week. He was 87 years old. Through a series of serendipidous events at home in Taranaki with one of our Koro, Dan and I met in 2007 in Arizona while I was there visiting friends on an art cultural exchange and to share some of my art work. A generous and kindred spirit we had many conversations about indigenous rights and rock art which had been his passion for over 40 years. Well known for his work as a photographer during the Civil Rights Movement and images of Martin Luther King, he also spent a lot of time with the Hopi and Navajo / Diné people. Our conversations were often about this and the spiritual aspects of the rock art forms that connect us all and the importance of the indigenous voice as healing for the world. My last conversation with him was two months ago at his resthome in Tucson, Arizona. He was in great spirits. He was also one of my biggest fans supporting me with my photography, love of rock art and my own pursuit to bring my indigenous artist voice to the world stage. I travelled to Canada in 2015 alongside my Inuit sister Stacey Aglok and he supported my journey there and the kaupapa that we carried which was to ensure an indigenous voice was heard within the digital / electronic art community. I will forever be grateful for our connection and friendship and send his whānau much love at this time. Funnily enough, two photographers, we never had a photo together! That I remember! I have wonderful memories, emails and postcards from him with old school writing and images of rock art from around the world that connect to us here in Aotearoa. That is a beautiful, amazing story, for another time. E te rangatira, e Dan takoto mai rā i raro i te korowai aroha o ngā mātua tūpuna. #danbudnik https://www.instagram.com/p/CENLnN5s-x1/?igshid=v2kjwm8znjzi

I went off on a creative tangent today, but it's all connected! I created some ipu uku to hold my seeds and plant dyes. It was so fulfilling connecting with uku again, grounding. Earth holding earth... I'll have these bisque fired and use them unglazed. And of course one tangent leads to 10 more! So my plant glaze experiments are back on the table too 😁🌟 https://www.instagram.com/p/CELj5pRs8gT/?igshid=zjqdpb7mgj9a

Kua tāngia tēnei kohatu i te tau rua mano tekau mā tahi mo te rā whānau o tõku Pāpā. I painted this stone 9 years ago today for my Dad's birthday. It was one of the 365 stones I painted in 2011. Feels like a lifetime ago, but also feels like yesterday! If he was alive today, he would have been 92 or 93 lol His brother (also passed) and him had this thing about who was the oldest. I think it was probably my Dad because there would have been only 5 months between them if it was Uncle Maui. So instead there was 7 months between them, that seems like the more possible especially in the late 1920s but who knows! 🤔 The story for this stone 9 years ago was about chocolate. Every morning my Dad would leave a chocolate of some sort. It is one of the strongest memories I have of him and highly likely where my sweet tooth came from!! https://www.instagram.com/p/CEKwonWs9n9/?igshid=61nfc279blpj

Kā uri i te rā He ahi kaa i te pō Nau mai e ngā nui o te waonui a Tāne #kauri (at Turanganui A Kiwa) https://www.instagram.com/p/CEI-NVMM-gd/?igshid=5w1tiecjg9pr

Napuka - Hebe Speciosa This is one of the plants that produces a beautiful green dye shown in the images. One of many hebe species, I've tried three of them so far for dyes including koromiko - hebe stricta which is a plant I also use for rongoā. All three times I got this well saturated solid green. You can tell when a dye is going to be good, it sinks in right away and doesn't float on top of the paper and it's saturation is like paint. I've also done a winter test for lightfastness and that colour is not going anywhere in a hurry! I'll test it in warmer weather too. Because I want to create artworks that will last for a long time, where the colours remain for many years to come. What I love about this plant is that you can't mistaken it for other hebes, the leaves are almost succulent like, thicker, rounder and it is one of our plants you rarely see in the wild now. And of course these deep crimson flowers are just stunning. https://www.instagram.com/p/CED4CDhs0CT/?igshid=dfxi0mq3lr2r

Nature's palette - there is so much subtle variation between trees! Today I boiled rewarewa and kapuka and I opened the lids of some of my dyes to paint them side by side to see what conversations they would have.. And I was excited to hear.. And today the smell of trees wafted from these open jars - karamu and taupata = highly intoxicating! Like alcoholic! They had fermented a bit with the closed lid and oh my goodness! And taupata smelt like lollies! So I'm finding the dyes that I will eventually use to create new art works - but I'm also deepening my relationship to these trees that are revealing to me their potential. Reconnection to a time and place, primal - where all things were made of the earth and where all things will return. https://www.instagram.com/p/CD-4bCzsvR8/?igshid=flfbnmw8y98u

Sifting through moments in time wondering how water affects life and has strength to carve patterns in wood and in stone... I desire a simple life... where connection is: a kanohi a wairua a knowing sent on a wind to arrive in it's own time... Where there is no separation between universe and earth and sky and human. When life is held in the palms of our hands with reverence and love. Respect. Where did that life go? https://www.instagram.com/p/CD8Vx2SMCLX/?igshid=1pgzfv57wl8xf

For the well trained eye, this native tree will be easily recognisable with it's curvaceous leaves and multi green palate. While many are using this native as a hedge, I'm interested in it's full expression and am totally in awe of it's beauty. It sits right outside my front door for good reason. And I know that it's expression will be different in the bush. If you know what it is, send me a PM. And all you native lovers hush hush! I want people to guess. https://www.instagram.com/p/CD7EowEstaR/?igshid=bufqyk0qln62

In the month of August I am mentoring a small group of Australian women artists as part of the Sunshine Council Artist in Residence programme "Space Travel" As an artist it's always an honour to be able to share creative practices and experiences with other artists. And the Sunshine Coast holds a special place in my heart having been there a couple of times as an artist in residence myself. And I have so much in common with these artists! A love of plants and nature 🍃 This is the work of @anniesworkroom one of the artists, please go and check out her page, it is beautiful! 🌟🍃 https://www.instagram.com/p/CD0f9f3MlGL/?igshid=1qgvl6ardafi7

Ko te wawata o te tangata Ka rewa i te pae One of our most beautiful native trees - rewarewa. I've had this rākau in the maara for nearly 10 years. Easily identifiable with it's speckled grain and jagged leaves. And these putiputi ataahua that aren't in full bloom yet, they're definitely a highlight of this tree! Its like my pou rākau in the garden. Standing tall and humble, yet it exudes beauty. Whenever I'm walking around the garden it's a tree that always stops me in my tracks. I'll be testing this rākau over the next few days for it's dye potential and I'm also excited about the wood and it's possibilities for my artworks - the grain is spectacular! Strong and light. https://www.instagram.com/p/CDt_slfs3mm/?igshid=1xuv1orq5ksbi

My favourite forget-me-not is back in the garden. In July 2013 when my Dad passed away, this plant appeared in my garden for the first time and now, every year in July, it returns. https://www.instagram.com/p/CDqY0CvMsi_/?igshid=5p9v6tl3dngr

This popped up as a memory - created five years ago today 🌟 Weaver of Light and Love Created intuitively from an image of nature. Each creation is created using earth's magical energy, the wonders of technology and this one in particular drew inspiration from the recent full moon energy. And these were the words spoken as I sat with this... Universal All things are possible Woven light Dreams brought to reality Planted seeds of goodness and love Sunshine Growth Radiating out into the universe Full moon energy Sparkling light Reflections of crystal clear blue waters Pink with love Yellow for joy Green healing, orange fire Earth Sun Stars woven together within a matrix of endless possibility I see you I know you. With arms raised wide open accepting love into my heart, always. Expressing outwards with open arms Expressing inwards with open arms lifting up Spiritual Depth Layers upon Layers upon layers Reveal this beauty within. I am that I am. We are here. Right now. In this infinite amazing beautiful universe. Potential right here, right now. Arohanui, Jo x (at Turanganui A Kiwa) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDXBve0Mm4V/?igshid=xz6xj1h1klk0

Hinahina i te põ Māhoe ki te ahi mārama e 🌿 I often think about how our ancestors were inspired by nature. Their connection to the environment was intricately woven with the roots of ancient trees - trees that reached deep into the earth, whose branches stretched to infinite potential in amongst the stars and everchanging moods of the moon... affecting all life on earth in a constant cycle of change. And māhoe the firestarter. How could they have known if it wasn't for Mahuika and Māui, the creative spark. How could they have known if it wasn't for that intrinsic connection, that they already knew. Because they are apart of that tree and that tree is apart of them. How could they not know? https://www.instagram.com/p/CC-n0IzssB6/?igshid=1i3anhcglez9q

While my focus has been exploring botanical dyes of our natives, it's hard not to get distracted by the beauty of these trees and every other thing I can create with them! Today as I was sorting branches and leaves, I remembered this action as a child. The forest was my play ground and while it was mostly pine, the intention of building a house from nature at seven years old was firmly planted. Gathering ferns and bark to be layered as walls and floor in my nature whare, I can still picture it now! Exploring the dye potential has meant an even closer look at our trees. Spending more time with them - dissecting, extracting, cutting, picking, observing, creating, sitting with, just looking, sensing, questioning, photographing. And asking about these patterns on each tree and where did they come from, how are they made and how can I use these patterns as inspiration for the artworks I will create using the trees themselves. The ulitimate collaboration. https://www.instagram.com/p/CC8DJQ4MtvD/?igshid=4mgz60hto3mw

Nau mai e te putiputi rewarewa! One of the most beautiful of our native flowers although this is just the beginning of it's full expression! And a favourite tree of mine in the maara with it's jagged leaves and amazing bark! I wonder what dye potential it has? Leaves, bark, flowers, seedpods? All of the above? Look forward to exploring this one and no doubt I'll be distracted with the bark and creating other things! https://www.instagram.com/p/CC7-xfNM49n/?igshid=1sa8h6ydvrd6s

Out on the edge, dropping into the void... https://www.instagram.com/p/CC27R0CMhrH/?igshid=1v4ox3yukvd4j