Matariki – Maori New Year

tetekura — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 06:36:49 +0000

Recently I ran a survey asking artists / creatives what they would like to know about how to become full time artists and do what they love for a living. For established artists, I asked what is one thing that has enabled their success? And for artists who hadn’t taken the leap yet, I asked for one thing that would make them take that leap…

I received 67 responses which I was pretty pleased about as I was aiming to get a good cross section of people and art-forms.

So why am I telling you this?

Well, I gave away seven of my hand painted rocks to seven of the 67 people who participated in my survey!!

And I also wanted to honour this time of Matariki or Pleiades (or Puanga to us in the west) which is a symbol for the beginning of our Maori New Year and all the beautiful things that this time of year brings including abundance and new beginnings.

Nga mihi nui ki a tatou mo te tau hou Maori! Greetings to us all for the Maori New Year!

If you are an artist and would like to participate in this survey (although there will be no incentive for a painted rock as these have already been won) I am leaving the survey open for as long as I can. You can visit it here

Arohanui,

Jo x

Koru

tetekura — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 22:15:31 +0000

I finally have a dedicated space for my hand painted rocks. It has taken a while!! I’m pleased with the result and grateful to Rajneesh for putting it all together for me!

SO what is it about these rocks that are SO special?

When I first started painting on rocks 12 years ago, I had an immediate attraction to them. And then when I returned home to the West Coast, Taranaki and saw these amazing rock covered beaches, I was even more captivated. So much so, that I moved home and lived here for the next seven years during which time I have painted hundreds of these rocks, many of which I have given away.

These rocks carry the “mauri” or “energy” of the land from which they come which is why they are so special. They carry history, perhaps thousands of years old, are nice to touch and very healing.

So I continue to paint these rocks even though I live seven hours drive away on the East Coast! Each time we go home to Taranaki you can guarantee that the car is always loaded with rocks. Visit my website to find out more about my process of gathering and painting on these rocks.

Arohanui,

Jo

Hand Painted Rocks

Matariki – Maori New Year

Koru