WEEK 5 > AN ARTIST THAT MAKES JEWELLERY FROM RECLAIMED MATERIALS

Riona Whero Cross

Brooch

Matchitt, Gina

artist

2001

Image  74 (Height) x 46 (Length) x 6 (Width/Depth) mm

Gina Matchitt is one of a number of Maori jewellers who have been developing jewellery that draws on contemporary New Zealand styles to express Maori customary concepts.

Matchitt has divided the Merchandise portfolio into three groups:

Wairua (the spirit) is the first group, and it deals with religion. Here Matchitt comments on the way the early missionaries suppressed Maori rituals and art practices, and expected Maori to adopt European clothing, and ways of life

This may be Gina Matchitt broach one of the first group. Its shape is representative of religious cross. It is a lion in the middle of a pattern, red background. This pattern is also very familiar with the kind of beer trademarks, and its material should be cans, Gina Matchitt jewelry materials are recycled stuff, cans trademarks are common, I think this is an interesting works of the artist.