Raranga
Bernadette Ross
13 January - 15 February 2026 | Community Gallery
Opening Celebration Sunday 18 January 1 - 3pm
All Welcome
Contemporary flax art woven traditionally
Harakeke weaving (Raranga) is a traditional Māori art made from and inspired by the local materials and environment around us.
Artist Biography
Bernadette Ross was born in South Auckland on a dairy farm; she was 1 of 9 siblings. Growing up on the farm taught her a huge respect for the land, the bush, the rivers and sea. These early experiences led her to a landscape gardening career after a brief period of office work. Physical injury meant by the time she was 50, a permanent change of direction was required and a subsequent enrolment into Te Wananga o Aotearoa.
What followed was a wonderful 4 years of learning the Art of Raranga (Flax Weaving). The influence of tutor, Bibbins Tangitua in her work is clear. Bibbins was a master of Porohita and Kete. While doing her Maunga Kura Toi - Bachelor of Maori Art, she was guided by the skilful weaver, Rawhinnia Gray.
Artist Statement - "As a Raranga (weaving) Artist, Harakeke (flax) is the medium I use for the majority of my work. Its versatility, ease of use and the connection it provides to our Whenua, makes it a pleasure to work with, both in a physical and spiritual sense.
The environment surrounding me in Whangamata, the bush, sea, beach and farmland with their colours, textures, sounds and smells provide, inspiration for my work. I continue to be challenged to reflect what I see and feel around me, and to express this in the work I produce." One of the most enjoyable tasks, is weaving to commission –it stretches me technically and creatively
Visit Us at Morrinsville Gallery
Weekdays (Tuesday to Friday): 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Weekends (Saturday & Sunday): 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Closed on Mondays
Wabi Sabi
Anne Jolly
Closes - 3pm 15 February 2026 | Community Gallery
Finding beauty in imperfection -
Anne Jolly: A Life in Fibre, Texture and Colour
At ninety-one, Anne Jolly is proving that creativity has no expiry date. Currently exhibiting her Fibre Art Show Wabi Sabi at the Morrinsville Community Gallery, Anne’s work celebrates texture, colour, hand embroidery and the beauty of imperfection. This is her fourth time exhibiting at the gallery, and each return marks another chapter in a long, curious and ever-evolving creative journey.
Anne’s love of making began early. The only girl with two brothers, she spent formative years travelling by train to Timaru to stay with her grandmother, who taught her knitting, crocheting and tatting. During the war, Anne belonged to the Girls’ Brigade, knitting royal blue pullovers, socks and cardigans for airmen — dedication that earned her a badge for her uniform. These early experiences laid the foundation for a lifelong engagement with fibre and handcraft.
Wabi Sabi offers visitors a chance to experience the richness of Anne Jolly’s creative life — a body of work shaped by curiosity, resilience, humour and a profound love of fibre. And goodness knows where this exciting exhibition will take her next.