Colonies

6 August to 3 October, Tairāwhiti Museum Te Whare Taonga o te Tairāwhiti, Gisborne

A collection of craft skills transferred over the decades from one maker to another are centre stage in works inspired by the diverse ecosystems in coral reefs. Featuring crochet, knitting, sewing, quilting, traditional Māori weaving, wood carving, and new technologies of robotics and sound/light activation, Colonies features clusters of individual “crafted polyps” grouped to form a large-scale hewn coral reef. The underwater structure exists as an expression of community, shared knowledge and an embracing of handmade objects. Textile artists include Lina Marsh (curator), Tamsin Wilson, Cleo Thorpe-Ngata, Becka Melville, Kathleen Marsh and Megan Hansen-Knarhoi. tairawhitimuseum.org.nz