Description
Created during my Artist in Residence on Waiheke Island in 2016. I had specific areas of interest to base my research, to explore historic middens and Pā sites, and bring to the fore the traditional navigation routes that led Lieutenant James Cook to anchor in Man O’War Bay 245 years ago. Sydney Parkinson, a young painter and Tupaia, an Ari’oi from Taputapuatea, Raiatea were part of the crew. Tupaia was on board as Cook’s translator and navigator. Tohora Cook Strait Survey Tahi pays homage to the watercolour palette Parkinson and curiously by Tupaia used in storyboarding first contact and is from the collection of artworks created for my Reading Middens, Tracing Lines exhibition at the close of my residency at Waiheke Community Art Gallery, 16 September – 17 October 2016.
