Maria draws on traditional design and adds her own unique features. She uses sustainable materials, mostly harakeke.
Maria was born in Switzerland near the city of St Gallen, famous for its beautiful lace. Alongside her artistic talent, Maria brings to her woven creations Swiss design flair and Swiss precision.
After arriving in Rotorua and being introduced to Māori culture and art, Maria was fascinated by mahi raranga (Māori flax weaving). She learnt weaving from Richard Kereopa at Waiariki Polytechnic, and Meleta Bennett and Karmen Thomson at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa (Rotorua). Then at the National Weaving School (Te Rito at Te Puia) Edna, Hectorina and Makere helped her greatly to develop her skills. In 2019 Maria suffered a stroke causing aphasia and followed by severe depression. With great courage, good treatment and weaving she has recovered, but ongoing fatigue limits her time at weaving.
Learning weaving has also opened the door for her to the warmth of Māori culture.
Although Maria has expressed herself in piupiu, tāniko, pake, maro, whāriki and kupenga, she best likes making kete whakairo (baskets) and wall hangings. The harakeke (NZ flax) that she uses is carefully chosen from different varieties according to the characteristics required for the article. While weaving, Maria follows tikanga (māori protocol). She draws on traditional design and adds her own unique features. She uses sustainable materials, mostly harakeke.
Maria draws on traditional design and adds her own unique features. She uses sustainable materials, mostly harakeke.
Maria was born in Switzerland near the city of St Gallen, famous for its beautiful lace. Alongside her artistic talent, Maria brings to her woven creations Swiss design flair and Swiss precision.
After arriving in Rotorua and being introduced to Māori culture and art, Maria was fascinated by mahi raranga (Māori flax weaving). She learnt weaving from Richard Kereopa at Waiariki Polytechnic, and Meleta Bennett and Karmen Thomson at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa (Rotorua). Then at the National Weaving School (Te Rito at Te Puia) Edna, Hectorina and Makere helped her greatly to develop her skills. In 2019 Maria suffered a stroke causing aphasia and followed by severe depression. With great courage, good treatment and weaving she has recovered, but ongoing fatigue limits her time at weaving.
Learning weaving has also opened the door for her to the warmth of Māori culture.
Although Maria has expressed herself in piupiu, tāniko, pake, maro, whāriki and kupenga, she best likes making kete whakairo (baskets) and wall hangings. The harakeke (NZ flax) that she uses is carefully chosen from different varieties according to the characteristics required for the article. While weaving, Maria follows tikanga (māori protocol). She draws on traditional design and adds her own unique features. She uses sustainable materials, mostly harakeke.
Maria draws on traditional design and adds her own unique features. She uses sustainable materials, mostly harakeke.
Maria was born in Switzerland near the city of St Gallen, famous for its beautiful lace. Alongside her artistic talent, Maria brings to her woven creations Swiss design flair and Swiss precision.
After arriving in Rotorua and being introduced to Māori culture and art, Maria was fascinated by mahi raranga (Māori flax weaving). She learnt weaving from Richard Kereopa at Waiariki Polytechnic, and Meleta Bennett and Karmen Thomson at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa (Rotorua). Then at the National Weaving School (Te Rito at Te Puia) Edna, Hectorina and Makere helped her greatly to develop her skills. In 2019 Maria suffered a stroke causing aphasia and followed by severe depression. With great courage, good treatment and weaving she has recovered, but ongoing fatigue limits her time at weaving.
Learning weaving has also opened the door for her to the warmth of Māori culture.
Although Maria has expressed herself in piupiu, tāniko, pake, maro, whāriki and kupenga, she best likes making kete whakairo (baskets) and wall hangings. The harakeke (NZ flax) that she uses is carefully chosen from different varieties according to the characteristics required for the article. While weaving, Maria follows tikanga (māori protocol). She draws on traditional design and adds her own unique features. She uses sustainable materials, mostly harakeke.
