Support our local artists affected by Cyclone Gabrielle - Updates

From a Piha artist who wishes to remain anonymous

23 February 2023

"I am a full-time artist who was based at Piha that has lost their home and studio from cyclone Gabrielle. I choose to remain anonymous because this is not about me, but this is about us, all artists out there.

My downstairs living area and studio was 5 foot under water. We had a slip at the back of the section which caused the retaining wall to collapse on the back of our house. The result is we are yellow stickered and we can no longer live in the house. I have lost about 50% of the work stored in the studio created over the last 10 years including all the work that was created for an exhibition in May. I have also lost all my studio tools, paint, boards, canvas, tables etc to create new work. These had to be thrown out as they were all contaminated with sewage water as the floods breeched the sewage tanks of the surrounding properties. With the lack of a studio, I have also lost my way to make an income until I get resettled and can create one. I need to do this asap as I still must create a body of work for the show in May.

The items that were upstairs or salvaged from downstairs have now been moved offsite as looters were caught on our deck and other looters were captured by 10 armed police later in the day in our street. Despite the assurances of the authorities and government that this is not happening, looting is a real issue and is impacting those of us who have been forced to leave their homes and those who remain.

My wife and I are currently staying with my mother for another week and then we will move to a leaky home with floors in one room that have partially collapsed. It is rent free and I will project manage the rebuild to help my friend who made it available to us. The reason to move here it is a long-term solution and we won’t have to keep moving, as it is anticipated it will take 18 months to get our own home fixed, assuming council allow us to, given the slip and the steepness of our section. It also has a double garage which I will use as my makeshift studio so I can continue to make work.

I could keep going on with stories, but I literally have not stopped at any moment of every day since the storm. From the time I wake up until the time I go to sleep it has been constantly one job after the other and I need to get back to my to do list. I have been either throwing stuff out, cleaning up the mess, arranging utilities to be moved, moving furniture and art, it goes on and on and 1 week later I am still waiting for someone from the insurance company to get back to me to survey the property. It’s hard to move on when you are looking over your shoulder.

I am just one (full-time) artist out there and honestly better off than many as at least I have insurance. I know many more who have been impacted by the cyclone or the storm that came a week before it. Some have had their homes slide down a hill, others including one prominent artist, have lost 30 years of work, their homes, their studios etc. Again I could go on but it’s dire for those not insured.

I’m not really sure what writing this will do but before the next news cycle hits and this gets forgotten about know people are going to be in a busted situation for a long time to come. A thought for anyone reading this… during the covid lockdowns people read books, watched Netflix movies, looked at artworks on the walls etc etc. Those were made by artists. The people on the lowest hourly rate who create to add to the culture. It is human to make marks, dance and sing. It is the universal thing that all people across the world who despite developing separately do. To be an artist is primordial somehow, it is essential to be human. Remember this when you think about the impact of what not being able to make art will have on those making it and those observing it. Help the living artists by buying from the primary market not the secondary auction market. Especially buy from artists still at the beginning of their journey, they need it the most for income and a sense of encouragement.

Thanks for taking the time to read all of this. If you got to the bottom you are good people."

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Experience of Parau artist, Mamakan

23 February 2023

"My practice as a botanical artist is around plants and native forests. Sometimes I work with botanical artworks and sculptures. Then, I invite people out to eat the plants through the 'Art of Foraging.'

The terrible weather during this summer forced me to cancel every single foraging event from November to February. However, I still had to bear the continued costs of cultivating and conserving our regenerating forest. Also, as the weather forecasts were unpredictable, I had already bought all supplies and food for the cancelled events.

The worst impact was on Friday, the 27th of January.

We had booked an entire weekend of guests coming to my studio for foraging and art/produce sales. So I worked the whole January holiday to make everything ready.

As the sky opened that afternoon, our only access driveway disappeared under a large earth slip. We were locked in. People were locked out. I had to cancel again for some of the guests for the 3rd time in a row due to the weather.

Our handmade foraging path, which had taken years to make, was cut in two by another earth slip, this one about 200 meters long, taking down fully grown mature trees with it. We might permanently cut off access to that part of the forest now, as it's too dangerous.

To make matters worse, my studio got flooded. As a result, most of the visual art collection became damaged beyond repair, and most of its unique pieces can never be replaced.

I will have to work months, maybe even years, to restore what has been lost.

Look, it is already almost impossible to make a living out of art. People say the last months, especially weeks, have been a test of resilience. What happens when resilience runs dry?

Yes, it is tempting to give up. And a desk job with a fixed monthly salary looks very appealing.

On the other hand, this may be a wake-up call for me (and all of us) to keep discovering nature-inspired ways of living. Nature is telling us to stop what we are doing and listen. And change for the better.

We all know that climate change is here to stay. Our native forests will and can show us a path forward.