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Industrious
women on Atiu have kept some of the old crafts and arts alive.
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Due
to the influence of earlier foreign visitors to our island,
a number of indigenous crafts were abandoned.
Anga
(commonly known today as tapa
or bark cloth) was used for religious purposes and clothing.
Both were replaced by the missionaries when implementing a new
religion and a different dress code. Though a lot of the ancient
knowledge was buried with the taunga (experts), in recent
years Cook Islanders have started to revive some of their traditional
crafts. Tapa cloth is produced by beating the inner bark of
certain tree species. Tapa making only survived on the island
of Atiu and is now mainly used for making costumes for
ceremonial purposes, such as a high chief's investiture, or
performances. |
Highly popular
with both local women and tourists alike are the tapa flowers
that our women sell through craft shops on Rarotonga and,
if you are lucky, from their Women's
Centre on Atiu.
Tapa
Cloth and Beater
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Tapa
Flower
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A
woman's great pride and joy
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Tivaivai
can be translated as "patchwork".
It is a pieced or appliquéd, sometimes heavily embroidered
unquilted coverlet, the colourful post-missionary substitute
for the tapa cloth of ancient times. Even today, on the home
island or abroad, a Cook Islander's life is wrapped in tivaivais.
Whether for a haircutting ceremony, an important birthday (21st
in particular), a wedding or the grave, tivaivais decorate the
hall where the celebration takes place, are given to or cover
the floor, chair, bed, body or coffin of the revered. They are
not normally for sale, but specially made for family members
as sign of affection. |
Unveiling of a grave stone |
| Once
a year, usually at the end of November, Atiu's village or church
women's groups (vaine tini)
exhibit their tivaivais and related textile works according
to a program agreed upon at the beginning of each year. Participating
in those shows is an honour. Fulfilment of the entire program
and demonstration of creativity and skills can earn pride and
prizes. Atiu tivaivais are also exhibited annually at the National
Museum on Rarotonga and have been shown in museums and galleries
abroad. |
Women's
tivaevae show on Atiu
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At the Nat. Museum on Rarotonga
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 produces
art and craft works inspired by traditional Cook Islands textile
art and created with modern knowledge and skills. It started
1986 with a single sewing machine, and is today a dynamic
three-woman team in a 80 sq. m. studio, gallery and shop,
best known for its tivaivais.
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Tapa
collages and tivaevae
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Colourful
Polynesian patterns are combined with contemporary design and
innovative techniques of sewing and embroidery.
The textile artworks of the company's founder and director Andrea
Eimke have featured in several solo and group exhibitions at
home and overseas. Andrea designs most of the Atiu Fibre
Arts Studio's works and enjoys the challenge of applying
innovative techniques for private and corporate commissions.
These include wall hangings, art quilts, textile collages and
wearable art. The Studio uses a wide variety of materials and
natural fibre: tapa, cotton, silk and brocade, and if the perfect
colour of ready-dyed fabrics can't be found, it will be hand
dyed and painted. |
Midnight
Blues (quilt)
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| Atiu
Fibre Arts Studio was commissioned to create artwork for
banks, hotels, the National Culture Centre on Rarotonga and
the Intercontinental Hotel on Maui (Hawaii). the Victoria Art
Gallery in Melbourne (Australia) acquired one of the Studio's
tivaivai for their permanent collection. Many works are in public
and private art collections in the Cook Islands and abroad.
Those interested can book
in for a one-week course in the art of designing and sewing
tivaevae. Andrea has been invited to lecture and conduct
several workshops overseas on the making of tivaivai
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Coral
Garden, hand embroidered tivaevae
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The
Atiu Fibre Arts Studio has organised and participated in a number
of national and international textile exhibitions in the USA,
Europe, Australia and Oceania. The Atiu Fibre Arts Studio is
member of the Cook Islands Tivaevae Association which is dedicated
to the conservation and promotion of the art of tivaivai in
the Cook Islands and abroad.
For more information visit the Studio's
own web site , e-mail,
fax (+682) 33032, ring (+682) 33031 or write to
Atiu Fibre Arts Studio Ltd.
PO Box 13
Atiu (Cook Islands)
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