Joining the dots

INCREDIBLE FEAT-ONS: Colours Deluxe celebrates the achievement of Sarah and Edward Featon of Gisborne, who in the 1880s undertook an ambitious project to describe and paint New Zealand's flowering plants. Tairāwhiti Museum director Eloise Wallace (left) is excited to share their story with the public. An illustrated history of their endeavours, written by Jean Johnston (right), accompanies the exhibition. Picture by Paul Rickard

A local couple's pioneering attempt to explore Gisborne's botanical landscape resulted in the publication of New Zealand's first full-colour art album in 1889.

To celebrate their remarkable achievement, Tairāwhiti Museum is proud to present Colours Deluxe: The Art Album of New Zealand Flora.

The exhibition commemorates the work of Edward and Sarah Featon, who in the 1880s undertook an ambitious project to describe and paint Aotearoa's flowering plants.

“It is a historic project,” museum director Eloise Wallace said.

“Both Sarah and Edward recorded a world of plant species that could have disappeared over time, but are being reclaimed 100 years later in our natural world.

“Anyone who loves nature and art will enjoy the exhibition.”

From a collection of 134 watercolour pieces, the museum will exhibit 20 of them alongside other paintings, artefacts and archival items.

An illustrated history of the couple's endeavours, Colours Deluxe by Jean Johnston, will also be available.

The idea for the exhibition was proposed by Mrs Johnston a few years back, Ms Wallace said.

“It seemed like an amazing Gisborne story that wasn't really well known.”

During Mrs Johnston's research, she discovered that her husband John knew of a person from his childhood who was a relative of the Featons' granddaughter.

“On approaching the family, they were thrilled to get involved.”

The family have been generous in sharing some of the rare and unseen works of the Featons, such as personal photographs, letters and stamps.

“Their engagement really helped to join the dots of their grandparents' history,” Mrs Johnston said.

Together with shared materials from the family and old articles published in this paper, which was then known as The Poverty Bay Herald, Mrs Johnston was able to reconstruct a conceivable history.

“The Featons originally came from London. It is unclear if they knew each other when they were in the UK, but what we know is that they both lived in Auckland and married soon after.”

“In his earlier years, Edward served in the military and later worked as an optician and trained as a nautical instrument maker. Soon he got a job with the Lands & Survey department and was sent to Gisborne.”

While it is unknown why the late couple embarked on a quest to survey all plant species in Gisborne, it is understood that it involved a personal interest, Mrs Johnston said.

Sarah was recognised for her watercolour skills and craftsmanship.

“In an interview with her granddaughter, I was told that an uncle of hers had arranged for some painting lessons.

“To my understanding, watercolour painting was possibly an accessible medium and an acceptable thing for ladies to do to pass time,” Mrs Johnston said.

One of the botanical paintings is of a particular kind of hibiscus, Hibiscus trionum.

“It is said that Archdeacon Williams at that time brought the flower from Pouawa and gave it to Sarah to paint.”

In 1894 the couple's work was promoted in a deputation tp Premier Dick Seddon on his visit to Gisborne.

“The deputation requested that a copy be placed in every school in the country — something that wasn't effectively carried out — but spoke volumes on their highly regarded work and the support and encouragement they received from their community,” Mrs Johnston said.

The public is welcome to attend the opening for the exhibition, and the launch of the book, at 5.30pm on tomorrow. A free public talk by Dr Heidi Meudt, curator botany at Te Papa Tongarewa will be held at the museum at 1pm on Saturday.