Learning about chisels and some whakarei.

Our chisels have arrived woohoo!.  So in preparation for 'picking them up' Kawiti talked about each of the chisels and their uses this week.  I found it interesting and as I watch carving demos on You Tube, I can now visualise my own carving using the correct tools/chisels. 

I'm super keen to learn how to care for them because if there's something I have picked up from pretty much EVERY carver I have talked to, watched online or read about, is how important it is to look after your tools and to keep your chisels sharp.

Kawiti also showed us a few demos on how to carve some of the whakarei.  He suggested we have a go at just carving straight lines to get a feel of how the chisels move through the wood, getting a feel for the grain and how easily (or not) chisels cut.  I found an old pine bed head leg to have a tutu with.  I made a few observations while I was practising:

1.  I loved the smell of the wood while carving (haha probably treated pine which isn't good for you)

2.  I could feel the difference between using a light and heavy mallet to your work.  The heavier being harder on your arm but cut through the wood nicer.
3.   I loved the korero between the tap tap tapping of the mallet and the sliding of the chisel against the wood.
4.  I actually really enjoy the 'tidying' up of the lines afterwards - I can imagine it being time consuming if you had to tune out a number of pieces and a master probably wouldn't have to go back and tidy up after their cuts... I enjoyed the process.

Things that I am thankful for this week:
- Our online classes have been sooooo helpful (particularly for me who has just come into this class pretty much clueless)
- A supportive partner who encourages me to go an purchase the gear I need to set myself up for success in this course.
-  Having gear, tools and wood to play with.

Safety equipment and new (old) chisels

Today we were asked to meet at TWOA campus to pick up our class materials which included stationery, safety equipment and a new taonga pukapuka for the collection.  I was stoked with all of them, especially the safety gear because there was some awesome equipment for us to use at home and in the classroom. 

I also purchased some 2nd hand chisels on Whangarei Marketplace.  The chisels belonged to George Campbell of Onerahi.  I sent a photo to my bro to see if they were worth buying so I could start my own collection of chisels.  He gave me the thumbs up so I bought them after chatting with his daughter on fb messenger.

When I went to pick them up I asked Anne about her Dad (so I could have a korero about the chisels that were coming home to my workshop) We had an awesome korero and I told her it was an honour having her Dad's chisels and I'll refer to them as 'Hori's chisels' she was pretty stoked as I told her about my new whakairo journey.  She gifted a set of smaller chisels too.  She also said I could have the plastic case too and throw it out if I wanted.  I thanked her and said Hori's chisels will live in the case.  I did give it a bit of a make over when I got home to Tangiteroria and Dad and I primed and prepped it and I used some stencils I bought in Samoa to decorate my chisels case.  I love them and the case they live in!

 

Mere Pounamu, Patu and Wahaika

Today we looked at Mere Pounamu, Patu and Wahaika.   I enjoyed sketching these objects as I have some unfinished examples of each in my workshop.  These were given to me from my bro inlaw Johnny.  So while Kawiti was explaining things I could see the forms and figure out how you would cut out and shape.

We had a go at sketching designs thinking about the 3D form.  It's a great way to get your head around how you would approach these projects.

Introduction to Rākau Māori - Maori weapons

Today we watched an amazing Waka Huia segment on Tei Nohotima (Tūhoe).  His whole life revolves around the ancient taiaha weapon and he shares his undying passion for an art that has empowered his Tūhoe people since the time of ngā atua.

A couple of things I noted was the birth of the taiaha, where Tūmatauenga transformed Ake-rautangi into a taiaha and his eight sets of eyes (which also relate to the 4 features of the whare and ngā hau e whā). I learned that Ake-rautangi is also a type of wood.

I also liked the way Tei eplained a wero, he said it was a spiritual presentation. The weapon will awaken the spirit within you and it will energise and guide you. (He is also a judge at Tūhoe's ahurei celebration)

We - tane
ro - creation of woman

There is a balance between representing the two atua Tūmatauenga and Rongo during a wero. Many of the other atua are present and represented also: Tane & Tāwhirimatea.

Kawiti guided us through how to draw a taiaha. Again, it was another rewarding and enjoyable session.

Regional figures & styles

Taitokerau 

Our drawing sessions have led us to drawing full figures which I find super exciting because I've always marvelled at te full figured carings and always wanted to have a go at sketching them.  I loved every minute of the session today and most of our online class was conducted through silence (we were all focussing so hard.

Taranaki wheku

The first part of our session involved going over the differences between the different regions and there are two distinctive styles of figured carvings, block and serpentine.  Of course I had an interest in the Te Taitokerau styles and current knowledge was pretty much consolidated.  It was interesting learning about all the differences and similarities between carving styles, for example, the many similarities between Te Taitokerau and Taranaki carvings.

Pūhoro 

I also realised there's a lot I don't know in regards to how many 'well known' whakairo artist there are and I need to get up with the play.  I haven't yet decided on the artists that I'll be studying, it's been trickier than I thought.  I thought of my brother-in-law but he's not a 'recognised' carver as such, he's still my carving hero though.  I also thought about doing Matua Manos Nathan because he was an awesome mentor and someone I will always look up to, he was an uku artist who used whakairo techniques to decorate many of his pieces.  I'm not too stressed about it all at the moment because I know soon enough who to study.  In the mean time, I'm LOVING our sketching sessions.

Koruru & Wheku

 

Today our learning was around koruru and wheku.  The couple of videos we watched were 'The evolution on tatau' and 'Tattoo in Oceania' with Te Ringatū Netana.  We also looked at different regional styles of koruru and wheku.

We discussed some of the principals of kaitiakitanga, Āhurutanga, Koha and Mauriora.  Some of the stand out korero for me what a statement made by Te Ringatū... "It's not Māori if it's not done by Māori" My own whakaaro around that is yes but to a certain extent.  I think it has to be in the right context for it to be tuturu Māori.  We had a quick discussion about the pākeha wahine to received moko kauae from a Māori but there has been a lot of controversy around the decision he made as a Māori moko artist.  My personal thoughts is that moko kauae is 'taonga tuku iho' a taonga passed down from our tupuna and should only be for Māori.

The other korero that resonated with me what his mention on manaaki.  My interpretation of it after listening to his korero was that manaaki is interwoven into all of the prinicples mentioned above. 

Kupu Hou
Āhurutanga:  warmth, comfort.

The korero from matua Tewarahi Heteraka around unaunahi design was interesting also:
Maui was the one who started this traditional design.  They are the scales that clothe Maui, Ko te unaunahi ka whakapiripiri te ika nui a Maui.
Ko te unahi tuatahi:  The flesh of mother earth (Te kikokiko o papatuanuku).  Within that is "Ko" or rock.  Ko-hatu - bones of mother earth.  Ko-iwi - bones of humans, Ko-manu - bones of the manu, Ko-tohora - bones of the whale
Ko te unahi tuarua:  Represents flora and fauna that clothes mother earth. 
Ko te unahi tuatoru:  Represents the animal kingdom
Ko te unahi tuawhā:  Represents the human race (evolution upon the earth) We are the true representation of God in his purest form.