Sonia Snowden

Sonia Armana Snowden (born 1946) is a New Zealand Māori tohunga raranga (master weaver) who tutored in arts and weaving at Te Wananga o Raukawa.[1][2] She identifies with the Ngāpuhi iwi.[3] Her works are held in the collection of Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa (Te Papa).[1]

Sonia Snowden
Born1946 (age 74–75)
NationalityNew Zealander
Known forweaving

Biography

The small community of Waikare, in the far north of New Zealand is where Snowden grew up.[4]

Snowden learnt her craft from such distinguished weavers as Ramari Ropata, Emily Schuster, Erenora Puketapu-Hetet, Aromea Tahiwi, and Nellie Frost.[5][4] She started weaving in the early 1980s and is known for the use of fine strands of natural fibres from harakeke, pīngao and kiekie.[4] In 2001, after the Rangiatea Church was damaged by fire, Snowden supervised a group of weavers replicating the tukutuku panels of the church for its restoration. In 2013 Snowden was part of a group of weavers whose work was displayed at the United Nations Headquarters General Assembly building.[2] In 2016 a New Zealand stamp was issued showing a kete created by Snowden and held at Te Papa.[6] Snowden gained formal acknowledgement of her master weaver status when in 2018 she was appointed to the Ngā Kahui Whiritoi of Te Roopu Raranga Whatu o Aotearoa.[7] In 2019 Snowden was awarded the Ngā Tohu ā tā Kingi Ihaka award recognising her lifetime of contributions to Māori arts.[8]

Snowden has passed on her knowledge as a tutor for many years at Te Wānanga o Raukawa, a Māori university in Ōtaki.[4]

Notable works

Te Papa holds the 'Matariki' tukutuku panel, woven by Snowden, in their permanent collection.[9] It was woven from kiekie, raupõ, kakaho (the flower of the toetoe) and pingaoto and was created to celebrate Matariki.[9] Te Papa is also the custodian of a kete created by Snowden and named Tatai Whetu ki te Rangi.[10] Another taonga created by Snowden and held by Te Papa is the hieke or raincape she created in March 2000.[11] This is made from neinei.[11]

Exhibitions
  • Toi Maori: The Eternal International touring exhibition, 2005—7[5]
  • Toi Whakarākai: Ngā Aho o te Whenua Mahara Gallery 2020[12]

References
  1. "Sonia Snowden". collections.tepapa.govt.nz. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  2. Carlisle, Talia (20 May 2013). "Weavers' work goes to UN". Kapiti observer. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  3. "Nancy Brunning honored at Te Waka Toi Awards | Ministry for Culture and Heritage". mch.govt.nz. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  4. Hakaraia, Libby; Waata Urlich, Colleen, eds. (2008). Te kāhui o Matariki : contemporary Māori art for Matariki. Urlich, Colleen Waata, 1939-2015. North Shore City, N.Z.: Raupo. ISBN 978-0-14-300934-4. OCLC 213382039.
  5. "Eternal Thread". www.burkemuseum.org. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  6. "Matariki 2016 - Kete". New Zealand Post Stamps. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  7. "Kahui Whiritoi". Toi Maori Aotearoa - Maori Arts New Zealand. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  8. "Local Māori artists honoured at Te Waka Toi awards". Rotorua Daily Post. 30 November 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  9. "'Matariki' tukutuku panel". collections.tepapa.govt.nz. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  10. "Kete whakairo (patterned bag) 'Tatai Whetu ki te Rangi'". collections.tepapa.govt.nz. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  11. "Hieke (raincape)". collections.tepapa.govt.nz. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  12. "Te Wananga o Raukawa students and tutors feature in exhibition". NZ Herald. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
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