Driving Creek is thrilled to announce that Ngā Kaihanga Uku (the Māori Clay Artists Collective) and friends will be returning to Kapanga to rekindle their long-standing relationship with Driving Creek
The rōpū will return to the iconic Coromandel railway and pottery from November 2 – 9, to host a series of public workshops and talks and open a major exhibition.
Born out of Ngā Puna Waihanga (the Māori Writers and Artists Society), Ngā Kaihanga Uku (NKU) first came together between 1987 and 1991. Founding members Baye Riddell, Manos Nathan, Colleen Waata-Urlich, Paerau Corneal, and Wi Taepa are collectively known as Ngā Tokorima.
NKU members and friends at work, Driving Creek, late 1980s. Photographer unknown, Driving Creek Collections
Without a ceramic (fired clay) tradition in Aotearoa, NKU sought to “awaken and raise a Māori ceramic tradition,” in the words of founding member Baye Riddell.* Inspiration was close at hand: “Māori clay stories are intertwined with our creation narratives.”* The NKU kaupapa is to “work with clay from a Māori perspective, share resources and knowledge, and connect with other indigenous clay artists.”*
NKU members come together to learn and share in wānanga.
Through these gatherings, Ngā Tokorima have passed their knowledge and skills on to the next generation of uku (clay) artists and NKU members.
They have exhibited widely in Aotearoa and internationally to widespread acclaim, and have also formed important connections with indigenous clay artists around the world.
Baye first became involved with Driving Creek through his friendship with founder Barry Brickell.
He acknowledges Barry’s influence on his own creative journey:
“His ‘Kiwi’ approach to pottery using local materials and exploring iconic New Zealand themes in his work, such as the freezing works and the New Zealand Railways, was for me an inspiring departure from the Euro-Asian influences I had previously experienced. This approach helped articulate and ratify my emerging Māori clay perspective.”
Baye and the NKU rōpū were regular visitors to Driving Creek until Barry’s death in 2016. When Driving Creek lost Barry, it also lost many of the relationships he had formed. We hope that together we can reignite this precious connection.
Ahi Kaa, an exhibition of work by NKU members and friends, will open on November 8 in the Driving Creek Gallery. Curator Chantel Matthews is bringing together a group show to “pay tribute to Driving Creek’s ethos, pioneered by Barry Brickell. Inspired by what it means to keep the fires burning as a potter/uku artist, we consider the hard work, determination, and love for the land and art that continue to burn today.”
NKU members will also host a series of public workshops and talks, daily at Driving Creek from November 2 – 7. Please join us for this very special reunion and help keep the fires burning.
* Quotes by Baye Riddell from his book Ngā Kaihanga Uku (Te Papa Press, 2023).
Find out more at: drivingcreek.nz/ngākaihangauku
Workshop and Event Details:
Ukupapa with Dorothy Waetford – Sunday November 2
Wheel Throwing with Kaeleb Ngatai – Monday November 3
Kūmara Ora with Amelia Blundell – Monday November 3
Glazes: Inspiration and Discovery with Karuna Douglas – Tuesday November 4
Making a Carved Ceramic Roller with Fleur Palmer – Wednesday November 5
Modelling with Todd Douglas – Thursday November 6
Ipu ki te Whenua with Rhonda Halliday – Friday November 7
Daily Artist Talks with NKU Members and Friends – November 2 – 7
Ahi Kaa Exhibition Opening – Saturday November 8
Ahi Kaa Curator and Artist Talk – Sunday November 9
Words by Matilda Halley, with support from Ngā Kaihanga Uku and Chantel Matthews
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