I grew up in Tuhoe country, in the Eastern Bay of Plenty.
I now live in the Whakatohea region, from whom our children descend.

I have developed a love and respect of te toi o o tatau tipuna - the art of our forebears.

I enjoy the structual process of weaving; it satisfies my need to create and allows me expression.

My work brings a welcome balance to my life.


No reira, tena ano tatau katoa

December 2007

Tena Koe.

I have an exhibition opening on Dec 11 and running until Jan 14 2008 with COCA, Centre of Contempory Art, 66 Gloucester Street Christchurch 03 366 7261. The works are exploring Mandala, there is a selection of them on my Gallery page.

September 2007

Up coming exhibitions;

BIRDSaPLENTY, an exhibition of avian artworks by six local artists. Opening 6-7.30pm Thurs 4 Oct, Opotiki Art Society Hall, 13 King St Opotiki. Exhibition Open: 5-13 October, 11-4 weekdays, 10-4 weekends. Kindly sponsered by Opotiki Phamacy.

Wine Country Gallery, 4 Treachers Lane, Havelock North. Richard Smith, Fiona Gedson, Daniel Smith. Opening Saturday 6 October 3pm, exhibition Saturday 6-31 October 2007

May 2007

Kia ora.

I would like to share with you how this year is going for me.

In January I was one of the guest exhibitors at the Molly Morpeth Canaday Art Awards in Whakatane, where I exhibited the first of my Mandala works. I am really enjoying these. They are a step away from the usual for me because there is no kete involved, just feathers.

Lethem Gallery in Jervois Road, Ponsonby is now representing my work in Auckland. At the moment they have a selection of Mandala from peacock and pheasant feathers.

At the end of March I completed a significant commission for Otahuna Lodge; 1.15 metre x 1 metre of pheasant feathers with a kete, this is by far the biggest feather work I have done. Otahuna Lodge provides Luxury Accommodation, just south of Christchurch. The piece was framed in Christchurch and I was flown down to sign it, which felt pretty amazing.

Pauline Giles was the Consultant for the commission. Her Dealer/Consultancy business, Artbay, is based in Queenstown and she now also represents me.

Pauline is responsible for another fantastic experience for me. My work was hung in a show at Amisfeild Winery, just out of Queenstown. A friend's mother who saw the exhibition said, "I was in very good company". I feel honoured to have had my work hang with work by Graeme Sydney and Gretchen Albrecht. I am incredibly grateful to Pauline for these opportunities.

I have also completed a number of other commissions. I love talking to people about what they are wanting their piece to represent; it's exciting to then see what develops. These take me outside what I might otherwise be thinking and working on on my own, so I find them inspiring - they always lead me in new directions.

At the moment I am working towards an Exhibition with Wine Country Gallery opening on the 6th of October, I'm looking forward to it. The series is coming together well and I've had lots of positive comments from people visiting the studio who have seen the work so far.

I am also in the process of an upgrade of my website, which hopefully won't be too far away.

I feel so grateful to be doing what I do and want to sincerely thank everyone who has and does support me along the way. Kia ora.

Namaste

Fi