Andrew Gordon: Wood as Witness

Andrew Gordon completed a Fine Arts degree at Canterbury University in 1982. After teaching at Waimate High School for several years, he worked full-time in Waimate as a painter and stone carver, exhibiting his work in Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.

Since 2003, Andrew has lived at Waerenga-a-hika where he has continued to develop his sculptural work, including working in wood. Recent commissions have included the Waerenga-a-hika Flax Cross for the Anglican Diocese of Waiapu, to mark the early mission station at Waerenga-a-hika. The four-metre high art work of laminated totara heartwood was dedicated during the 2007 Waiapu Synod by Archbishop William Brown Turei and Bishop John Bluck.

Andrew outlines the motivation for his latest series of wood carvings:

"Living close to an old pa site I have become increasingly aware of past lives lived out on the land we now inhabit. The importance of trees to those people and the continuing rich tradition of carving in this area was a catalyst for me to explore these connections from my own tradition."

Event listed by tairawhitimuseum

View their other events or contact promoter