Raraka Wanaka - Weaving Workshop

Topic: Raraka Wanaka - Weaving Workshop

Topic Type: Event

Year 7&8 Students from the ICARUS cluster [Haast, Jacobs River, Fox Glacier, Franz Josef, Whataroa and South Westland Area Schools] gathered at Te Tauraka Waka a Māui Marae, Bruce Bay [Mahitahi] to take part in a Raraka Wanaka [weaving workshop] with Aroha Timoti-Coxan and Arini Royal, and supported by members of Kāti Māhaki ki Makaawhio and thanks to financial contribution by WestREAP!

students, teachers and parents at the entrance to the Marae ICARUS is the Collaborative Innovations cluster that uses ICT to enable development through shared data and resources. The project provides Professional Development for Principals and Teachers and a range of projects for Students. ICARUS includes Haast, Jacobs River, Fox Glacier, Franz Josef, Whataroa and South Westland Area Schools.

This is the third of the ICARUS Collaborative Art series, studying artists and their processes. These art series have been providing opportunity for students to create and exhibit art and are aiming to bring creative practice toward a local context and media. The previous two have been Picasso and Colin McCahon [the South Westland Panels] the final Art works are exhibited as part of the Franz Josef School Art Festival

raraka wanaka [weaving workshop] in progress The workshop is for the Year 7&8 Students and explores aspects of collection and preparation of Harakeke [Flax] as well as foundation processes in Raraka [weaving]. Students will also be guided through the art work in the marae and gain an understanding of the telling of story through art.

Students will participate in this as an immersion experience that will not only explore art processes but the cultural foundations from which these are delivered. Work has began in each school to prepare for their coming together for the workshop and follow up sessions are also planned.

The final art works will be exhibited as one at the Franz Josef Arts Festival taking place on the 9th of September [Term 3].

Some recommended reading for follow up work is

Cover image of the Fun with Flax book Fun with Flax – 50 projects for beginners by Mick Prendergrast
Reed Publishers ISBN: 0-7900-0053-9

Some great ideas for continuing the exploration might be found in this book

Cover image of the Art of weaving book The Eternal Thread
The Art of Maori Weaving
Miriama Evans & Ranui Ngarimu [Photography Norman Heke] Huia Publishers ISBN: 1-86969-161-X