{"product_id":"whalebone-breastplate-pendant-by-gareth-mcghie","title":"Whalebone Breastplate Pendant | by Gareth McGhie","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis beautiful breastplate pendant has been carved from Whalebone (parāoa) by Gareth McGhie.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhalebone or parāoa is a special medium for Māori artists for both its physical and spiritual meaning. The usage of whalebone as a carving medium is deeply rooted in the wish to create a meaningful continuum of the animals whose bones have been transformed through this process.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGareth is of English, Irish, Scottish and Finnish descent and was born and raised in Te Matau-a-Māui - Hawkes Bay.\u003cbr\u003eGareth trained as a hairdresser and was in the industry for ten years before gaining an opportunity to work for Weta Workshop, holding the workshop supervisors role for five years and running a team of up to 100 artists and technicians. After ten successful years within the film industry Gareth was presented with an opportunity to teach at WelTec in Wellington.\u003cbr\u003eWith a passion and deep admiration for traditional Māori and Pacific arts, particularly whakairo (carving), specifically within the context of adornment. Support and guidance was provided by Stacy Gordine - Ngāti Porou, a renowned Hastings carver, craftsman and close friend to Gareth, to further his personal skill level, enabling greater insight and direction to refining his personalized design concepts.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe collaboration and synergy of traditional Māori adornment motifs with the natural forms and elements of nature provides my creative inspiration. Combining both traditional and contemporary methodologies provides a unique look and feel to my work.    \u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe social structures of our ancestral peoples allowed the development and blossoming of art, design, and levels of craftsmanship rarely paralleled in todays world. Marae based learning practice elevates research to a practical imperative.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eMy growth as an actively researching artist has been grounded firmly within a Tuakana-teina context. I teach within a project based environment and totally believe in its importance and relevance.       \u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eI look forward to any opportunity to pursue that growth. \u003c\/em\u003e     \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNB: Due to CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species ) export limitations, Whalebone pieces cannot be exported outside of New Zealand.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMade in New Zealand\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gareth McGhie","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45138728321215,"sku":"325134","price":2400.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0355\/4193\/files\/WhaleboneBreastplatePendantbyGarethMcGhie1.jpg?v=1770244399","url":"https:\/\/store.aucklandmuseum.com\/products\/whalebone-breastplate-pendant-by-gareth-mcghie","provider":"Auckland Museum Online Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}