I haven't written a thing about our Māori artist's residency in Rakiura because it's really difficult to put into words.
I don't want to summarise because that doesn't work for the time & place we spent together.
I don't want to list things.
I don't want to describe things in detail.
and I have way more photos than would ever fit on one blog post.
I was one of 10 Maori artists fully supported by Te Kāhui Manu Tītī Charitable Trust & we were in residence from late March to early April 2024

It was magical
Life affirming

I felt cared for 
physically & spiritually
I felt connected, deeply connected
and loved

Independent yet part of the collective

there were stories, so many stories
waiata
karakia & katakata

everyday something different 

unhurried
​wānanga & observation
without pressure 

time expanded

I didn't finish anything self directed
but then i don't always anyway 
I was able to play with media I've never met before
gathering, tending, sharing

I came home with a beautiful collection of tiny beads & toggles made from uku
gifts of colour from the whenua
and my heart full

Ngā mihi maioha ki a koutou te whānau whānui o nga iwi o Rakiura mō tō koutou manaakitangi ki a matou ngā Ringatoi i ngā hau e wha.

a year of karanga wānanga at Kurawaka Retreat Centre in Pōrangahau 
tuhi-a-wairua - 3 mins writing
a technique very familiar to me having spent several years doing 15 min 'wild writing' exercises 
this my final piece 
written at the Karanga symposium in Hastings 
​29 Jan 2025
my sister & my niece by my side
our jump off line : to deepen my connection to karanga

it's been a big year
filled with big things
good big things - in the main

collaborations
connection
travel

listening, growing
s t r e t c h i n g  o u t,  t a k i n g  u p  s p a c e 
holding space

playing with voice, letting voice out

​turning inward, resting, recovering

returning to self

turning to light
​watching the sky
​meeting the stars

​sleeping soundly

still wondering : still noticing : still loving