MASTER Carver mumio Naguchi enjoys a close following. PHOTO SUPPLIED
NEW Zealand’s premier bone carving event, the FirstGas Mōkau Bone Carving Symposium, will return to Mōkau Hall for the sixth time at Easter.
Organiser Mike Brown said the event would kick-off with a pot-luck dinner at the hall at 6.30pm on Good Friday, and he hoped “everyone” would come.
“As the event depends on community support, we hope locals will be turning out once again, to provide visitors with a taste of the town’s famous community spirit,” Mike said.
“On Good Friday, the idea is to bring along your own food and drink, meet the visitors and have a good time.
“We have a record number of 60 carvers registered – it’s a complete sell out.
“And this year’s special guest carver is to be Stacy Gordine, the lead bone carving tutor at Te Puia in Rotorua.
“Stacy’s exquisite work is held in both private and public collections in New Zealand and around the world.”
The carvers had been extended the privilege of being formally welcomed onto the Maniaroa Marae.
Mike said he and his colleagues were grateful and honoured that this offer had been made.
“People are coming from all over Aotearoa New Zealand – even three from Australia – to stay and carve in the beautiful Mōkau Village.
“It is exciting to bring so many gifted artists to Mōkau for the biggest bone carving event in the country.
“Also, many of the carvers are bringing family for the Easter break.
“So, I’m hoping we’ll give them the warmth and kindness of a classic Mōkau welcome,” he said.
“One of our objectives is to get as many people as possible to pop into the Mōkau Hall and see the artists at work.
“We usually get 300-400 visitors and entry is free, so I’d encourage everyone reading these words in the King Country News, in fact, anyone who is interested in bone carving, to make the trip.
“In the past, many people have travelled from throughout the region for the day. And as well as the symposium in the hall, I’m sure they’ll enjoy the pop-up craft market operating next door for the whole weekend.
“Some of the best carvers in the country will be demonstrating their unique methods and techniques.
“There’s to be the opportunity for people to see what amazing carvings these masters are creating and to purchase genuine hand-crafted treasures.
“There’ll be a range of styles from contemporary, abstract, realism as well as contemporary and traditional Māori.”
The symposium was dedicated to three objectives: getting more people into bone carving, improving the quality of bone carving in New Zealand and restoring the mana of bone carving as an art form.
“We promote the creation of genuine, hand-crafted, quality taonga.
“We respect the sacredness of traditional Māori design and encourage carvers of all ethnicities to tap into their cultural roots for inspiration,” Mike said.
Noting some of the prominent artists who would be attending, Mike singled out Daniel Ormsby, the leader of a Māori arts collective based at the Red Shed in Waitomo.
“Daniel has been supportive of the symposiums since the beginning, and is part of our national leadership team. Daniel has been a great help to non-Māori carvers in helping us understand and respect Māori art.”
Stephen Myhre, from Paraparaumu, was the symposium’s first-ever special guest carver in 2017 and had remained a great supporter ever since.
Both he and New Zealand Order of Merit recipient, Owen Mapp, had represented the “Fathers of the Art”, being professional carvers since the 60s and 70s. They were now investing knowledge and skills in an emerging cohort of carvers who will take the art on into the future.
“This symposium is a means for them to do that,” Mike said.
“Steve wrote the most amazing book on bone carving in 1987. It is still the most helpful and respected work of its kind in New Zealand, if not the world. It is still being reprinted today.”
Mike said a good starting point for those interested in taking up the craft for themselves, would be to watch the carvers at work; view their display items and perhaps take the opportunity to purchase one’s own special piece from a chosen carver.
Supporters were also urged to look at billeting carvers.
“Do you have a spare bed, a spare room, caravan or bach? Accommodation is very tight at the moment and we need hospitality,” Mike said.
Meanwhile, locals who liked to bake could make a real contribution by providing morning and afternoon teas.
“Are you proud of your scones or hot cross buns?
“Our carvers would love to sample them. Drop them in to Sheneen who is manning the kitchen.”
Mike urged those who could contribute in any way to call him 0272236138, or email 22pilotroad@gmail.com
