Artist Profile:

Melanie Richardson

Weaving feathers with a contemporary approach is a way for me to explore, appreciate and contribute to the wealth of taonga (art treasures) in and from Aotearoa, New Zealand. I began weaving feathers in 1997 to make a cloak for a character in a film script that I had written. While making the cloak it occurred to me to make a series of feather art works.

The feathers themselves are a continuous source of ideas and inspiration. I enjoy producing 'featherworks' as abstract landscapes of colour and texture with an added sculptural dimension. 

I explore the aesthetic potential and emphasize the natural beauty to evoke themes such as unity, collaboration, relationships and environment. With my own method of construction I combine imagination and intuition to produce unique and individual pieces. I work with the idea of '...blending the old with the new to create a new identity.' and explore mixed cultural heritage. I am of English, Scottish and NZ Maori descent.

My 'Featherworks' are a celebration of nature and heritage and provide a new perspective on something that may have otherwise blown away in the wind.

At the present time I space my work around caring for my whanau of four children and helping my sister care for her son. They are an inspiration to my creativity and we have a lot of fun together. Three of my children are at school now and I recently became an elected parent trustee on the school board.