"Kaitiaki" - an exhibition celebrating kaitiakitanga and the return of Kiwi to Pukenui Forest.

“Kohekohe”

Created for “Kaitiaki” –Pukenui Forest Kiwi Release Exhibition 

Limited edition Linocut, Variable Edition of 5

by Toni Hartill

 I was honoured to be invited to take part in this very special exhibition to be held in Whangarei, my home away from home,  where I have family roots dating back generations. Participating was an easy choice as I am particularly drawn to projects of an ecological nature and which allow me to research and explore history, culture, time and place. And, this exhibition aims to draw attention to an extremely important project, 10 years in the making: The Pukenui Forest Kiwi Release. (Scroll down for links.)

 

"Artists celebrate kaitiakitanga (guardianship) and the recent Kiwi Release event at Pukenui Forest. These artists are considering the importance of our native bush, flora, fauna, and it’s inhabitants and the guardianship role we all need to adopt to help these spaces thrive. Their work responds to the beauty of our natural environment, and highlights the need to protect these places in any way we can. Working across multiple disciplines, the artists have all approached the topic from their own unique perspective, in their choice of material and method.

Contributing artists include… Celia Walker, Toni Hartill, Gabrielle Belz, Alexis Neal, Lisa Clunie, Megan Bowers Vette, Prue McDougall, Christine Cook, Miriam von Mulert, Mariette van Zuydam, Andrea Beazley, and more.

Open: 1-19th June

Preview: Thursday 31st May 5:30 – 7:30pm 

Yvonne Rust Gallery, at The Quarry Arts Centre, Selwyn Ave, Whangarei.

In conjunction with the Western Hills Pukenui Collective. Pukenui Forest Trust, The Whangarei Quarry Gardens, The Quarry Arts Centre, Te Kowhai Print Trust and Kiwi North. Proudly sponsored by Whangarei District Creative Communities Scheme."

  

LINKS

For more information visit:

 Facebook events page: "Kaitiaki Exhibition Opening."

Facebook page: Te Kowhai Print Trust 

Pukenui Western Hills Forest Charitable Trust

Facebook page: Pukenui Western hills Forest Trust

 

 My ode to the Kohekohe tree

  I decided on a botanical approach, wanting to further hone my illustrative skills with lino cutting, but also with the intention of experimenting with multiple layers of colour and texture. A fair amount of experimenting and testing was done to trial different techniques and effects until I achieved a result vaguely in line with what was in my mind's eye. Each print went through the press five times, then the flowers were hand tinted and the seed pods hand coloured with gouache to make them POP. I don't usually include text in my images but it seemed appropriate in this print. I found I really enjoyed the effect of carving hand written text, which, when printed, embosses the paper with an effect a lot like letterpress. Something to play with further I think!

“Kohekohe”

Created for “Kaitiaki” –Pukenui Forest Kiwi Release Exhibition 

Limited edition Linocut, Variable Edition of 5

Toni Hartill

“The Kohekohe tree was once plentiful in the North, forming dense lush forests, but their numbers have greatly reduced due to settlement of the land and introduced pests such as possums. 

The nectar-filled flowers are a particular delicacy for the possums in winter 

when there is not much other food available. The recent and concerted eradication of possums has meant that the forest is returning to health and, for the first time in a long while, the trees are flowering and are now setting seed. 

Inspiration came from the tree’s quiet beauty and a desire to celebrate this milestone by drawing attention to it. Old seed packets and historic wallpaper designs were also a source of inspiration in considering the effects of colonialism and settlement of the land.”

 

Time lapse of Kohekohe flower lino cutting by Toni Hartill.

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Thanks for visiting!