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Halswell Library’s Tukutuku Panel July 2009
This panel was designed, created and constructed by the Halswell Library Team, as part of the Tukutuku project in 2009 to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of Christchurch City Libraries.
The Spirit of our Community
- Alpaca wool, scoobies, curling ribbon, quarry stones, fimo
- 122 x 60 cm
Panel creation
The panel has two sections and uses some traditional Māori weaving patterns to signify the Halswell area, including the library, community and local environment.
The right 2 thirds of the panel is painted with a representation of the Halswell area with the hills, the surrounding farmland, the Halswell Library located at the bottom right hand corner and the Halswell river at the left of the painting.
The scenes of the Halswell area on the were painted by a group of year eleven art students at Hillmorton High School incorporating the theme of community involvement in the project.
The additional materials used on the Tukutuku panels were stones gathered from the summit of the Halswell quarry signifying the historical, geographical and recreational importance the quarry has to the Halswell area. Alpaca wool woven through the panels signifying tussock from Halswell’s rural heartland. Eels which were an plentiful food source for early Māori travelling through the area to and from Banks Peninsula were made from fimo as were kiwi and pukeko which were abundant in the area in pre European times.
The stairway pattern on the painting signifies life long learning, knowledge, growing, and the role of the library in achieving this.
The diamond pattern used on the left side of the Tukutuku panel reflects the food abundance of the area. Red and gold, the colours of Halswell school were used for this section of the Tukutuku panel.
Panel creation
The Halswell library held two public weaving sessions for the weaving section of the Tukutuku panel. A local resident, Ailsa Wilton, a member of the embroiderer’s guild gave much constructive advice and practical help.
