Whetū Rise – Celebrating Matariki
Estuary Arts Centre, Orewa, New Zealand
30 June – 26 July 2026
This winter I had the honour of taking part in the "Whetū Rise – Celebrating Matariki" exhibition at Estuary Arts Centre.
For this special exhibition, I presented a textile light installation consisting of three suspended felted light sculptures, together with my needle-felted landscape inspired by the beauty of Aotearoa beneath the Matariki stars. Both works were created using natural fibres, combining fine merino wool and silk to celebrate light, texture and the changing New Zealand landscape.
The illuminated textile installation explored the gentle glow of light shining through layers of felt, while the landscape reflected the magical colours of the sky mirrored in a winding river beneath the Matariki constellation.
One of the highlights of the exhibition was that my landscape artwork found a new home. It is always an incredible feeling to know that a piece created entirely by hand has connected with someone and will continue its journey in their home.
I was also deeply touched by the wonderful response to my work throughout the exhibition. The textile light installation received many lovely comments and sparked conversations with visitors, which was incredibly encouraging. As an artist, hearing such positive feedback means so much—it motivates me to keep exploring new ideas and pushing the boundaries of what can be created with wool and silk.
I left this exhibition feeling inspired, grateful, and genuinely proud of what I had created. Every exhibition is another step in my creative journey, and moments like these remind me why I love working with natural fibres.
Thank you to everyone who visited the exhibition, shared kind words, and supported local artists. Your encouragement means more than you know.
I can't wait to share my next creative adventure with you. ✨