Please join us in celebrtaing a coming together of amazing artists and myself, a farmer of natural resources, as we open our exhibiotion, The Soil Addresses Us As One.
Tuesday 27th May 2025 at 6pm at Te Ara Ātea, Rolleston. Initiated & hosted by curater, Erin Lee of Te Ara Ātea in Rolleston, to showcase the interconnectedness of textiles, craft and the soil.
Featuring multi-dicipline artist Steven Junil Park (6x4 online), textile artist Georgina May Young and loom weaver, Christine Brimer (Niche Textiles). These three amazing people have told their stories about what it means to be able to connect with their resources directly from our own whenua.
As presented at the annual Costume & Textiles Association of NZ symposium in Dunedin mere weeks ago, The Soil Addresses Us As One is a beautiful story of growth, discovery, connection, regeneration and hope.
Steven Junil Park - 6x4
Indigo dyed & embroidered kid leather gloves, beads made from "waste" indigo pulp, baskets woven of indigo stems holding linen straw & dried indigo leaves and beautifully hand crafted boxwood bowl holding linseed/ Steven has also created a video of this previous season for the projection wall which spans the ground floor of the building - do come and see it!
Ara Manawa, 2025 - Georgina May Young
Muka, indigo, coreopsis, uku, mineral watercolour, gum arabic, houhere, linen, cotton
Ara Manawa is a work of grounding and guardianship—a celebration of the vibrant and fertile connections working together with whenua, wairua, and potential.
Christine Brimer
A stunning display of skill and a deep connection to the land, Christines' series tells the story of water flow during the growth and development of a crop of organic linen. "My head knows the wonder of woven structures, my hands the joy of weaving, and my soul belongs in the land that nurtures us."/
So do come along and experience these magnificent pieces for yourself. The exhibition opens Tuesday 27th May 2025 at 6pm with talks by the artists and myself, and will be available to view for approximately the next 9 months.
Having these artists talk to my mahi on the land has brought a great deal of pride to the goal I have set out to achieve. It no-longer feels too big & daunting, because I now know what this project can do for our makers here in Aotearoa and it's reconnecting all of us to the gifts that our soil can bring forth, if only we accept them with gratitude.
See you there
~ Gina
NB. If you plan on coming to our opening talk, pleaes RSVP to Erin for catering: erin.lee@selwyn.govt.nz