Wendy Naepflin

see me on the 2024 arts trail

Guest Artist on the 2024 Arts Trail

I am a full time harakeke (NZ flax) weaver and avid forager. I love to let the harakeke inspire me as part of my art making process.

Many of my original pieces reflect my passion for our natural world and I try to use as many natural resources as possible.

My weaving skills were learnt on marae in the north over the last 13 years, and that tikanga grounds me today. I have a traditional slant to my weaving, studying Maori art and design and learning to carve has greatly influenced my work, but I also find it exciting to explore and create in a contemporary style.

Through being a full time kairaranga (full time weaver) I have found my creativity and am the most happy when I am in my paa harakeke (flax area) caring for my 40+ bushes.

Since attending the bi-annual international artist gathering of CollaboratioNZ 2017-2023 and also bringing my skills to a similar Collaboration week in Canada has opened my creativity to other artists and their mediums.

There I learnt to free myself and look outside my chosen medium.

So I now also create with pottery, wood and any other natural resources I can lay my hands on.

My work can be found in galleries and shops in Northland and at special art events, also in collections in Switzerland, UK, The States and Canada.

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