Jeromy van Riel
STEWART ISLAND / RAKIURA
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My bones aren't from here. I'm from the mammoth hunters, the Phoenicians, Vikings, the Mongols, Romans and the French until my People became Dutch. But I was born in Southland and I love my home and the people we are together.
I started carving in the mid-1990's. A research on Pounamu (Jade) at Teacher's training College inspired me to learn more on this subject. Later. I got a job selling diamond tools to carvers, they'd swap stone for my tools. I began collecting. Over the years, I'v acquired not only Jade but stones from around the world, Whale bone, Moa and Mammoth. I've spent years as a reo Maori teacher, teaching both at school by day and adults by night and finished my teaching career as School Principal at a rural school in Northland (Hokianga). When the opportunity arose to take over the care of Rakiura Jade from master carver Dave Goodin, I took it. Rakiura Jade is the only gallery in the world where I can represent myself but even better than that, I get to teach carving, I get to host and share our "vibe". We are the Southern most Jade carving studio in the world and arguably the most interesting shop between Bluff and Greenland, on our side of the street. My personal art focuses on connection, giving life to that which is seemingly dead, to let light pass through that which is seemingly solid and to turn that which is unnoticed into treasure. My work sells across the world but these days, what's more important to me is that people from across the world getting to experience a little bit of our culture and tap right into their own creative, inspired self, right here above Half Moon bay harbour. Nau mai. Haere mai. Tauti mai Welcome to Rakiura Jade. |
Ahakoa he iti, |
"The best thing you can take home is a new experience".
Join me in my workshop where you can carve your very own piece of pounamu (greenstone) while enjoying stunning views of Halfmoon Bay and the Foveaux Strait from our window. Not a carver? No worries! I'm experienced teaching and working with people of all skill sets from all corners of the globe. You will be supported to choose your own piece of stone or bone and develop it into your own unique piece of art. No two pieces of stones are the same. Additionally, feel free to drop in and browse the Gallery pieces I have on display my huge collection of fossils, bones, stones and world treasures. Ask me about the art of carving or my artwork, or just have a chat in such a beautiful setting as Stewart Island's waterfront. |
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