Our Virus Vulnerability
As April wore on more news of the virus and subsequent lock-down became a clear reality. Self-isolation in the studio wasn't difficult...but not having friends for tea! That I truly missed. It was difficult. During these times other's suffering directly affected so many. I created the tea bowls to honour my absent friends. We were missing our tea and coffee connections. At the same time the desire to help and share became very real.
We were all experiencing these feelings within a new time frame. For those fortunate to be at home there was spare time, a chance to slow down and be more aware of daily routines. An opportunity for mindfulness arose - for me nothing symbolizes a mindful ritual more than the tea ceremony.
The small works in this series are available in exchange for a donation to your favourite charity. After donating email a copy of your receipt so I have your address and I mail you the tea bowl you have chosen.
Update December, 2020.
Plans are to continue this offer in the New year with details in the first 2021 newsletter
Poem for Papatūānuku – Mother Earth
by Ngāti Hine/Ngāpuhi writer Nadine Anne Hura
Rest now, e Papatūānuku
Breathe easy and settle
Right here where you are
We’ll not move upon you
For awhile
We’ll stop, we’ll cease
We’ll slow down and stay home
Draw each other close and be kind
Kinder than we’ve ever been.
I wish we could say we were doing it for you
as much as ourselves
But hei aha
We’re doing it anyway
It’s right. It’s time.
Time to return
Time to remember
Time to listen and forgive
Time to withhold judgment
Time to cry
Time to think
About others
Remove our shoes
Press hands to soil
Sift grains between fingers
Gentle palms
Time to plant
Time to wait
Time to notice
To whom we belong
For now it’s just you
And the wind
And the forests and the oceans and the sky full of rain
Finally, it’s raining!
Ka turuturu te wai kamo o Rangi ki runga i a koe
Embrace it
This sacrifice of solitude we have carved out for you
He iti noaiho – a small offering
People always said it wasn’t possible
To ground flights and stay home and stop our habits of consumption
But it was
It always was.
We were just afraid of how much it was going to hurt
– and it IS hurting and it will hurt and continue to hurt
But not as much as you have been hurt.
So be still now
Wrap your hills around our absence
Loosen the concrete belt cinched tight at your waist
Rest.
Breathe.
Recover.
Heal –
And we will do the same.