When Levin artist Polly Lind made her first textile goddess, she had no idea how popular her 'fetches, fairies and familiars' would be.
"I took my first goddess to my yoga class and the teacher immediately wanted to buy it. Looking back, I should have charged more," says Polly.
Polly's choice of art medium is fabric, creating fine art and modern tapestries using appliqué technique inspired by folklore, spirituality and modern witchcraft.
Before turning to art fulltime, Polly lived and worked in Wellington, a city close to her heart.
Landscape art of the Iko Iko building in Cuba Street In Wellington by Levin artist Polly Lind.
Her degree is in religious studies and she worked for several years in the Ministry of Culture and Heritage and information management.
"I have always been interested in history and weave this into my art."
Recognising that few artists are able to live from their art alone without having a gallery in town, Polly gave herself two years to see if she liked the life of a fulltime artist.
Moving from Wellington to Levin where her parents live helped make this a reality. Polly is not a trained fabric artist. She admits she was kicked out of sewing class at school and was taught to sew by her mother.
Recently Polly challenged herself to create a landscape piece – the Iko Iko building in Cuba St, Wellington. Iko Iko is known for its eclectic and fun household items - think ornamental pink flamingos for the lounge, gorgeous coffee table books on design and fun toys including a range of Kiwiana.
Polly wanted to know "how realistic" she could make the Iko Iko piece using just fabric. Her design was created during the Black Lives Matter protests in America and this is reflected in the window of the shops, which shows a trans-coloured heart, and a rainbow with a BLM fist in it.
Fox art by Polly Lind.
Polly has created her own range of art dolls called Fetchfolk which are so popular with adults there is a long waiting list to get one. These are a combination of folklore, popular culture, mythology and a few of Polly's friends. Each comes with undergarments and a certificate telling their 'story'.
The fox fetch, Mr Nicholas James Renarde, is a fashionista.
Mr Nicolas James Renarde is a style aficionado, clothing historian and fetchfolk gentleman. He adores clothing, and people in equal measure and believes that clothing is an accent to one's personality.
He has a strong dislike of fast fashion and believes that everyone should take the time to refine their personal style throughout their lives. His favourite styles include zoot suits in plaids and splashes of colour to add some flair.
He is always impeccably dressed with a style entirely of his own making, and his pockets are always filled with interesting objects. He is intelligent and wise, and well-studied in the history of clothing and its social implications.
Some say that he can not only shapeshift into magical and wondrous beings, but also fit in with all walks of life. He also likes to dance and is always up for a turn around the dance floor at the sabbatical events no matter gender or family or social standing.
