Sonia Snowden
New Zealand weaver
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sonia Armana Snowden (born 1946) is a New Zealand Māori tohunga raranga (master weaver) who tutored in arts and weaving at Te Wananga o Raukawa.[1][2] She identifies with the Ngāpuhi iwi.[3] Her works are held in the collection of Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa (Te Papa).[1]
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Sonia Snowden | |
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| Born | 1946 (age 79–80) |
| Known for | weaving |
Biography
The small community of Waikare, in the far north of New Zealand is where Snowden grew up.[4]
Snowden learnt her craft from such distinguished weavers as Ramari Ropata, Emily Schuster, Erenora Puketapu-Hetet, Aromea Tahiwi, and Nellie Frost.[5][4] She started weaving in the early 1980s and is known for the use of fine strands of natural fibres from harakeke, pīngao and kiekie.[4] In 2001, after the Rangiatea Church was damaged by fire, Snowden supervised a group of weavers replicating the tukutuku panels of the church for its restoration. In 2013 Snowden was part of a group of weavers whose work was displayed at the United Nations General Assembly Building.[2] In 2016 a New Zealand stamp was issued showing a kete created by Snowden and held at Te Papa.[6] Snowden gained formal acknowledgement of her master weaver status when in 2018 she was appointed to the Ngā Kahui Whiritoi of Te Roopu Raranga Whatu o Aotearoa.[7] In 2019 Snowden was awarded the Ngā Tohu ā tā Kingi Ihaka award recognising her lifetime of contributions to Māori arts.[8]
Snowden has passed on her knowledge as a tutor for many years at Te Wānanga o Raukawa, a Māori university in Ōtaki.[4]
Notable works
Te Papa holds the 'Matariki' tukutuku panel, woven by Snowden, in their permanent collection.[9] It was woven from kiekie, raupõ, kakaho (the flower of the toetoe) and pingaoto and was created to celebrate Matariki.[9] Te Papa is also the custodian of a kete created by Snowden and named Tatai Whetu ki te Rangi.[10] Another taonga created by Snowden and held by Te Papa is the hieke or raincape she created in March 2000.[11] This is made from neinei.[11]
Exhibitions
- Toi Maori: The Eternal International touring exhibition, 2005—7[5]
- Toi Whakarākai: Ngā Aho o te Whenua Mahara Gallery 2020[12]
- Toi Matarau Māoriland Film Festival, Toi Matarau Gallery, Māoriland Ōtaki 2020-2021
- Te Wānanga o Raukawa, Toi Matarau Gallery, Māoriland Ōtaki 2020
- Te Kahui o Matariki, Toi Matarau Gallery, Māoriland Ōtaki 2020
- Kāpiti Arts Trail, Toi Matarau Gallery, Māoriland Ōtaki 2020
- Ngā Aho Whenua, inaugural weavers residency, Toi Matarau Gallery, Māoriland Ōtaki 2021-22
- Tiaho Mai: Creative Kāpiti Gallery, Matariki Ramaroa Festival Paraparaumu 2021
- Whiti Ora: Toi Matarau Gallery, Matariki Ramaroa Festival Ōtaki 2021
- Te Ringa Māhorahora: Toi Matarau Gallery Ōtaki 2021-22
- Te Puna Waiora: Distinguished Weavers of Te Kāhui Whiritoi, Te Puna o Waiwhetū Christchurch City Art Gallery Otautahi 2021-22
- Whiriwhiria: Toi Māori Gallery, Te Whanganui a Tara 2022