Exhibition of New Tapa Work by Merlada Warren

Meralda Warren

We are very excited to be hosting an exhibition of new tapa works by Pitcairn Island artist Meralda Warren, which will be opened by Meralda herself. Meralda has become Pitcairn Island’s most original artist.  In 2007 she decided to learn and revive the art of tapa making on Pitcairn. She exhibited for the first time in 2008 in Tahiti during the Tahiti Bounty Day festivities and here on Norfolk Island in 2009 with the ‘Ahu Sistas Jean Clarkson, Sue Pearson and Pauline Reynolds.  Since then she has developed her practice even further and her tapa paintings are now held in collections all over the world.

Meralda’s latest tapa paintings were recently on display at the Te Papa Museum Maori and Pacific Textiles Symposium where she was the keynote speaker along with Pauline Reynolds. The paintings were also exhibited at the British High Commissioner’s Residence during a Showcase Event built around Meralda’s presence in Wellington.  This event focused on a ‘Positive Pitcairn’ and many of New Zealand’s important tourism movers and shakers were present.

Scraping the outer bark

Meralda will be visiting Norfolk for two weeks and we now have the opportunity to see these latest paintings. Included with her work will be “Pitcairn’s Next Generation Tapa” – four works by young Pitcairn Islanders. Through teaching young Pitcairn Islanders the art of tapa making, Meralda is single handedly ensuring that this knowledge will not be lost to future generations.

Everyone is warmly invited to the opening this Tuesday 28^th June between 5.00pm and 7.00pm in the R.E.O. Café and Bookshop. The exhibition will then be open between 9.00am and 3.00pm Mondays to Fridays, finishing on Friday 8th July.