"I believe we are all tāngata whenua/people of the land, joined by our love for our land if not by blood.”
Environmental jeweller JoAnna Mere (Ngāti Porou & McKenzie) exhibits at Mahara Gallery in Waikanae this month.
JoAnna uses found metal from the marine and nature reserves of Kāpiti to make sculptural objects based on the concept of humanity as kaitiaki/custodians of te ao/our world. Her sustainable arts practice draws on contemporary and traditional techniques as she creates land and body jewellery to explore visceral and spiritual connections between people and the whenua/land.
"Whakareretanga has dual meanings – legacy or inheritance. It also means reject, item thrown away, and the process of abandonment. So this installation is a conversation, really, about our relationship with the Earth".
Opening: 5-7pm on Saturday 18 July 2015 (open to everyone)
Duration: 19 July to 22 August 2015
Location: Mahara Gallery, 20 Mahara Place, Waikanae, Kāpiti Coast
Cost: Free entry
Exhibition updates: https://joannamere.wordpress.com/
