| She takes pride in this legacy having taken it
for granted in her youth and also acknowledges the importance of the 'do
it yourself' ethos in New Zealand where women were adept at dressmaking
and embroidery out of neccessity.
Joan's education was at Wellington Teachers' College
and she later gained a Diploma of Art Education and an advanced teachers
diploma from Auckland Teachers College. In her early years she worked
in Special Education and has taught at Primary and Intermediate level,
specialising in Art since 1975.
Joan's interest in the fabric arts goes back to the
60's at Wellington Teachers College. A first project was screenprinted
curtains for the staffroom featuring native birds.
Batiking has been a frequently used method in
Joan's work and teaching. Techniques were originally developed when a
friend brought original pieces and tjantings back from Indonesia. She
'waxes lyrical' about the qualities of batik, its richness and depth and
has explored the medium extensively with children, producing banners,
cushions, panels and quilts.
She cites diverse global and
multicultural influences including her own heritage, Pacific fabric traditions
such as Tapa and Siapo, Hungarian embroidery as well as batik. Maori traditions
in weaving and pattern making are a constant source of inspiration. Joan
finds that children of any cultural background are enthralled by Maori
pattern making and believes that exposure to Maori culture and values
through their art is a means of countering prejudice and breaking down
intercultural barriers. Work illustrated shows a unit on cloak making
and the use of Taaniko and koru motifs.
 
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