WOODCUTS 6

TAHU

We have one son and his name is Tahu. This is a Maori name. It has about twenty meanings, but the one for us is ridge pole.

In the old times a Maori house was built first by erecting two king posts and then connecting them with a ridge pole. The next step would be to build the two side walls and then the rafters can be positioned so that the roof can be build to provide shelter.

We, the parents, saw ourselves as the kingposts, and our son as the connecting essential third element to build our family in the framework of the extended family, our Community.

Sketch of small, early traditional Maori house.

Here is a story about Rainbow Valley from a kid's perspective. In this story by Tahu at age eight the huts are on "The Island". The boulder bank makes this a dry crossing.

2nd March 1987

On Saturday I slept at Tammy’s place for one night. The next night I slept in a hut in the bush and we had dinner by the river. At first we couldn’t get it going, because it started to rain. But then Dylan and Jamie came. Dylan made a fireplace and the next morning we made the fire rays. We kept going into the bush to get dead ferns and we made a pile. Then we put it all on the fire. 

Tahu 8 years old.

Then Chilali, River and Tammy came back from the other side of the river. They went across the river to see the house that Rainbow Valley people live in.

Then they came back just as we were putting the dead ferns on the fire. We watched until they were halfway across the river. Then we put it all on the fire. When Tammy and Chilali got across they stood by the fire. River was on his way across. River shouted to Chilali “help”. She said you wanted to carry it. Then he got across the river and then he stood by the fire.

Then we went home. I went back to the house. That night Jamie, Dylan, George, Billy and River slept in the bush but they came back because it started to rain. They slept at Dylan’s place. River and George slept on a chair for the night and Billy slept on the floor. Dylan slept on his bed. Jamie slept on the floor too.

Billy put up a tent but he never slept in it because they forgot about it. When the night came they left it there for a day. When Gregor came to look for his plastic he could not find it because he looked at Jamie’s and Dylan’s hut. So I showed him were it was.

Title Tahu There is also a computer print A4 size version available for $10.
Year 1993
Number  XVI Woodcut
Edition size 20
Ink, oil based black and grey (two blocks)
Paper size 325x250
Image size 265x180
Price $ 150

 

Rainbow Valley Summary 2 For the Rainbow Valley story through art work 

 

PRINT SUMMARY 1 ETCHINGS 1 PHOTOGRAPHS  1 WOODCUTS 7
 
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