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March 7-10, 2008 Coromandel Peninsula - New Zealand

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Tahaa Ta Moko Studio & Art Gallery

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Location:

9 Campbell St., Whitianga

Hours:

Due to the nature of our work we sometimes work away from the studio however we endeavour to be open Wed – Sunday 10am- 4pm

Directions:

You can find us on Campbell Street, off Albert Street, opposite Mickey’s Irish Bar and Restaurant.

(all mail and correspondence to 54 Catherine Crescent, Whitianga)

Biography:

A ‘Tahaa’, translated into English, is a gourd which was used as a carrying vessel. It carried/stored kai (food), wai (water), it was also a vessel for containing a child’s afterbirth for burial, as well as having many other functional, practical and ritualistic uses. Therefore, through its uses it provided sustenance for the people, facilitating life force and longevity. This is how we view our studio- it is a place where beautiful taonga (treasures) are housed and where Ta Moko is done, hence providing art as sustenance for the mind, body and soul.

At Tahaa studio you can view and purchase a variety of Maori art- including taonga puoro (traditional Maori instruments), jewellery, weaving, stone sculpture and Ta Moko (traditional Maori tattoo). It is our aim to showcase as much Maori art as possible in the hope of strengthening understanding for things Maori, and to celebrate the skill and craft as shown us by our ancestors.

The amount of artists whose work we display varies over time. At the moment we have for sale works from renowned artists such as Hinewirangi Morgan, Brian Flintoff, Chris Charteris, Ian Thorne and more.

James Webster Bio-

James Webster is of Maori and European descent, residing in Whitianga-a-Kupe Aotearoa / New Zealand. He is a multi-disciplined artist working with wood, stone, bone, paint, fibre, metal and other mixed-media creations. He has skills as a kai Ta Moko (Maori tattoo) artist. He has a Bachelor of Maori Arts degree, majoring in WhakairoRakau (Maori wood carving). He is also a maker and player of Taonga Puoro (Maori musical instruments).