photo credit Rob Garrett

Illustrated Talk: Retrospective: Dreaming of Summer

 Part of the AUCKLAND HERITAGE FESTIVAL 2015: A H F comes to Howick

Join us at the Polish museum for an illustrated talk by Auckland artist Juliette Laird whose work interweaves domestic craft and visual art traditions.

Her spectacular ‘Dreaming of Summer’ night time instillation of branches of knitted leaves was held in Gdansk, Poland. It was inspired by the story of the 733 Polish ‘children of Pahiatua’ who came to NZ in 1944.

Each of the 733 leaves represented one of the Polish children. Branches were “grafted” onto bare trees in an avenue through a park. At night the softly glowing colours suggested the nostalgic dreams of the far-off children remembering happy summers before the war.

Visitors to Narracje 5 were amazed and moved by the account of the children’s journey and new life in New Zealand.

Support and encouragement came from the NZ Polish community – one of the Polish children, Marysia Jaskiewicz of Auckland, helped knit some of the leaves.

On display will be a small selection of branches.

Wednesday 7th October 10.30 to 11.30am, doors open 10am

Stay after and met Juliette and wander the galleries within the museum.

Free entry. All welcome.