Karl Leonard

Karl Rangikawhiti Leonard (b 1964) is a carver and weaver of Te Arawa, Ngāti Awa and Ngati Raukawa descent.[1] He was the first man elected to the committee of the national Māori weaver's collective, Te Roopu Raranga Whatu o Aotearoa.[2]

He learned weaving from his mother and grandmother. His grandmother was the noted weaver Ranginui Parewahawaha, who critiqued his 1st kete (basket) at the age of 112.[3] He attributes his time as a weaver and guide at the Māori Arts and Crafts Institute in Rotorua as fundamental to his practice. He acknowledges Bubbles Mihinui, Mini Hohepa, Kura Raponui, Homai Balzer, Denny Anaru, Katiroa Tuhakaraina and Emily Schuster as major influences and teachers of fiber arts during his time there.[4] Leonard, a teacher himself has lectured at Te Wananga o Raukawa between 2001–2010.[1]

In 2012 Leonard was selected for a six-week bicultural exchange through Creative New Zealand, the Toi Sgwigwialtxw Residency.[2]

Leonard pays close attention to detail and process, 'Everything is done by hand, from extraction to spinning to dying to weaving designs'.[5] Nigel Borell writes that his works 'are complemented with natural dyes and dying techniques, giving the garments a dignity that is not complicated or contrived'.[4]

His works are held at The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa and the Musical Instrument Museum (Phoenix) Arizona.[6]

Selected exhibitions
  • 2011 Mini Masterworks IV Spirit Wrestler Gallery, Vancouver[5]
  • 2010 Indigenous Weavers International Symposium Exhibition, Rave, Rotorua
  • 2010 Manawa Wera - Defiant Chants Objectspace Auckland[4]
  • 2009 Contemporary Male Weavers Whakatane
  • 2009 Taku Manu Hokahoka The Poi Room, Wellington
  • 2007 Māori Art Market Porirua

Education
  • 2004 Diploma in Māori Quantitative Methods, Te Wānanga o Raukawa, Ōtaki
  • 2003 Master of Te Reo Māori, MReo, Te Wānanga o Raukawa, Ōtaki
  • 2000 Master of Māori & Management, MMMgt, Te Wānanga o Raukawa, Ōtaki[1]

References
  1. "Karl Rangikawhiti Leonard". Toi Māori Aotearoa. Archived from the original on 30 January 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  2. "Māori weaver selected for North American artist residency | Ministry for Culture and Heritage". mch.govt.nz. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  3. Dekker, Diana (2009). "An eye for detail". The Dominion Post.
  4. Borell, Nigel (2010). Manawa Wera - Defiant Chants. Objectspace.
  5. Mini Masterworks IV. Vancouver: Spirit Wrestler Gallery. 2009.
  6. "Karl Rangikawhiti Leonard". Te Papa Tongarewa. Retrieved 30 January 2015.


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