Jana Wood

“Korero” , MALCOLM SMITH GALLERY, Howick, Tāmaki Makaurau, 2012

This work is a response to a poem by Bernard Gadd about the invasion of Parihaka in 1881.. Reference material also came from the book “Ask that Mountain” by Dick Scott. The visual imagery symbolises the peaceful words and protests by Te Whiti and Tohu, and his people., the lines symbolise the plow-lines (an act of passive protest by Te Whiti and his people before their land was confiscated and their peaceful village was attacked. The Tau Cross – Te Whiti’s beliefs were based strongly on traditional values and knowledge, mixed with some Christianity, the Parihaka peace feather, Mount Taranaki at the bottom – with Taranaki tukutuku patterns, and the words are sermons from Te Whiti spoken to his people prior to the invasion. It is painted on a recycled colonial-style white picket fence.

The Architecture of Happiness, How Diversity Works Exhibition

Studio One, Toi Tu, Ponsonby Rd, Tāmaki Makaurau, 2011

After being part of a 6-week community occupation and protest at Turua Street, St Heliers, 3 unique seaside Art Deco homes that were listed by the Heritage Trust, were demolished.  Following is a body of work, completed over the ensuing year, using the bricks salvaged from the demolition, to help bring attention to the plight of our architectural heritage.

A selection of painted bricks were piled on the floor for people to engage with, looking through- as if it was a pile of rubbish. Although an installation work in itself, the bricks were then sold individually, an action that reiterated the destruction of our architectural history, and engaged with people’s need for little tokens of history to remain.

The bricks are painted with Egg Tempera on gesso, brick size varies – approx. 110x110mm.

For more information visit:

http://diversityworks.co.nz/news/auckland-embraces-new-ideas-about-diversity/

2012 “Claybird”, Selected Finalist in the Estuary Art Awards, Malcolm Smith Gallery

Ink Jet Print on photographic paper, (edition of 10, 3 sold).

This photograph is an assemblage of items I have made or collected, a clay bird beak made from a mould of a bird skull found at Port Waikato after a storm, An egg tempera painting in the background, and bricks salvaged from the demolition site at Turua Street.

‘Brickstack’, Square Art pop-up show, Newmarket Square.

Salvaged bricks from the Turua Street demolition, Ink Jet print on photographic paper, Edition of 10 (2 sold)

‘Brickstack’, Square Art pop-up show, Newmarket Square

Salvaged bricks from the Turua Street demolition, Ink Jet print on photographic paper (edition of 10, 2 sold)

‘Brickstack’, Square Art pop-up show, Newmarket Square

Salvaged bricks from the Turua Street demolition, Ink Jet print on photographic paper (edition of 10, 1 sold)

Re-connection with Iwi and Whanau,

Studio One, Toi Tu, Ponsonby Rd, Tāmaki Makaurau.

Coast and Cave, 2009, These six paintings (500x500mm) are in oil paint on rabbit-skin gesso on board.

I have always been fascinated, and frightened, of entering caves. These paintings felt like therapy as I was working on them.

After spending summers on the West Coast at Piha, where my children would wander into the caves at South End, and into Northern-end cave, I completed some research into New Zealand caves, and the early Maori cave drawings. This lead me to discover that some of my Ngati Raukawa ancestors who lived on the Kapiti Coast may have been buried in caves on Kapiti Island. I’ve been fascinated ever since with this history.

Thoughts on te Maori ancestral migration, 2010.

Studio One, Toi Tu, Ponsonby Rd, Tāmaki Makaurau.

These two works are from a series of three. They symbolise the journey to Aotearoa – with the Wheke (octopus) and paddle imagery. For many cultures around the Pacific Ocean, this resourceful, adventurous creature is a symbol of early voyages.

The work is painted on re-cycled kauri ceiling boards.