"NGAERE"

One of my class projects for 2011 was a whariki (mat).  It has over 600 whenu and took just over 60 hours to make, from harvesting to completion. The pattern is kowhiti whakapae in black and natural.  I called it Ngaere in honour of Trevor's Mum who passed away very unexpectedly when I was about halfway through making it.  She was an incredibly clever craftswoman and also very active in her community (Ngaere, her middle name, has meanings of various forms of action and movement).  The second papa has one less row of horizontal pattern to remind us of those who are no longer physically present with us, showing how we integrate these losses into our lives as we continue with our own journeys.  Rest in peace, Avis.