Sonia Snowden | |
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Born | 1946 (age 77–78) |
Nationality | New Zealander |
Known for | weaving |
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]
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]
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]
Sonia Snowden | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Born | 1946 (age 77–78) |
Nationality | New Zealander |
Known for | weaving |
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]
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]
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]