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Joanne and I have found the North Island of New Zealand to be quite fascinating, with such a diversity of geography, history, recreational activity and artisan culture that we have not yet fully explored this South Pacific "North Island".
In any 21st Century society, the culture of the present is an amalgam of all that has gone before.
In New Zealand, it can be the pioneers from 1862 seeking out Kauri Trees (the worlds second largest tree and a type of conifer) to saw for furniture, making decorative wooden eating bowls, pails, stools, chairs, or house building...to Kauri gum for fire lighting, stiffening and aging linoleum or making exquisite Kauri gum jewellery (a must see is The Kauri Museum at Matakohe)...to the present day residents diving for and making use of Paui shell to fashion as jewellery.
Whangerei is the largest community on the North Island, north of Auckland, an economic hub.
Downtown Whangerei is essentially the harbor-front.
It was on this quay-side that we came across "Burning Issues" Gallery and Keith Mahy's glass-blowing workshop. Keith has been "the hub" of glass artisans in New Zealand for many years, instructing many many students in the art, as well as facilitating glass workshops at various North Island locations.
On the JoGarrard.com Home Page, as well on the "Designer Collections" page you will see some of the "one-of" pieces of Keith Mahys shard-glass work that we have brought back to Canada for our E-store.
Ken
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