Ahi Kaa
Ngā Kaihanga uku and friends exhinition Driving Creek Curated by Chantel Matthews.
Celebrating the legacy of sharing knowledge, resources and artistic vision. Taking inspiration from the ethos of Driving Creek and founder Barry Brickell. Ahi Kaa is a testament to the enduring bonds within the clay community. The works on display reflect a deep respect for whenua (land), Whakapapa (ancestry), and the traditions that have been kept alive and reimagined by each generation.
Pieces featured by Kaeleb Ngatai (Hononga), Baye Ridell (Kaitiaki o te ahi), Amelia Blundell (Kora).
Ahi Kaa exhibition piece (Hononga)
A representation of the living, those who have passed, and the unbreakable connection between the two. The vessel embodies you — surrounded by friends, family, and ancestors — with the fire within symbolising the life force that drives you. The outer cracks reflect the pain and hurt we experience throughout life, each mark a reminder of growth, resilience, and the strength that shapes who we are today.
Rotorua Potters exhibition 2025
Rotomahana (Merit Award) - Referring to crater lake in Rotorua where the pink and white terraces originally resided, this piece is a representation of the lake in a simple yet elegant form.
Tikitapu
My first wheelthrown piece using over 10kgs of uku (clay) measuring about half a metre in diameter, this piece was indeed a battle to create.
This piece was fun to create and as I took a step back I thought this looks like the valley of Lake Tikitapu (Blue Lake Rotorua) in the form of clay.
Outer body texturing techniques inspired by Carla Ruka.