Scott Brough’s pottery, available at Te Toa. Photo / Max Bull-Crossan
Scott Brough’s pottery, available at Te Toa. Photo / Max Bull-Crossan
Te Whare Toi o Heretaunga Hastings Art Gallery kairuruku whakatairanga marketing co-ordinator Tom Kitchin shares local art gift ideas.
Tucked away in Hastings Art Gallery in Civic Square is Te Toa, the gallery’s art and design store where your holiday gifts can support local makers and the gallery’s exhibition programme of local artists.
On offer are unique and affordable ceramics, books, art objects, prints and te reo Māori learning resources to fill the stockings of your whānau – and show artists, designers and artisans some love. There are many gifts under $30, and original art for under $100.
For today’s column we’re profiling two local artists who have work for sale at Te Toa.
Shanon Hawea (Ngāti Kahungunu) is a contemporary Māori artist specialising in paintings, drawings and illustrations based around mātauranga Māori.
Shanon Hawea’s art, available at Te Toa. Photo / Max Bull-Crossan
Hawea says a lot of his inspiration comes from cultural narratives in te ao Māori and framing whakapapa.
“School has been a huge influence on my work – I went to a Māori medium school,” he says.
He also spent 11 years as a Kura Kaupapa Māori teacher. His latest work includes interpretations of kōwhaiwhai panels, digital prints, and customised drawings, available for sale.
“I really enjoy colour – colour is one of my passions and I use the natural environment as part of my work, there’s also inspiration from creatures in the environment.”
Scott Brough is another local artist – a potter – born in Devon, England, but who moved to Tūranganui-a-Kiwa Gisborne at age 15. He’s been in Te Matau-a-Māui for around a decade and has cups and bowls for sale at Te Toa.
“I like that you get something that is usable and anyone can interact with it,” he says of his work.
“I’m also really fascinated and interested in the history of pottery as well. That’s where a lot of my influences come from … particularly from places like China, Korea and Japan and then also the European traditions – we’re talking medieval – that stuff is just so beautiful and timeless."
A lot of the finishes on Brough’s work are rough, instead of smooth and clean.
“There are lots of people who do make sure you can’t see any processes, whereas I try and leave those processes visible - so you get that visual interest.
“I just couldn’t do perfection – it wouldn’t feel right, I even physically would struggle, and I wouldn’t enjoy making it perfect.”
Hawea and Brough are just two of the artists whose work you can peruse – come in to Te Whare Toi o Heretaunga to see more. The shop is open from 10am-4pm on Tuesday-Saturday until Christmas Eve.
