Lewis Gardiner: Connecting art to people

PRECIOUS POUNAMU: Local artist and stone carver Lewis Gardiner has opened his own jade shop on Fenton St.PHOTO/BEN FRASER 201213BF13.JPG

Rotorua artist Lewis Gardiner's love of Maori stone carving goes "way back".

After more than two decades of designing and creating Maori carvings the Rotoiti resident has opened his own jade pounamu store on Fenton St. Mr Lewis' interest in the art form was sparked when he was in his final year of studying Maori craft design at Waiariki Institute of Technology. He graduated in 1994 and for 10 years he worked at the Jade Factory perfecting his carving techniques before he went on to work independently and train others in the skill.

Now Mr Lewis wants to share his work with Rotorua and its visitors.

"I think this store will be an interesting creative space for people to come and experience what we do," he said.

"It's been a long journey to get here and I hope people enjoy it."

Mr Lewis said the store would give visitors the opportunity to see the five carvers who work there in action.

"It's really an open-door policy, people will be able to talk to the artists and see first-hand what they do."

The Ngai Tahu descendant admits he has reservations about opening the pounamu store.

"I'm nervous and excited at the same time. What scares me a bit about it is knowing that nothing is guaranteed with running your own business.

"There's still bills to pay, five mouths to feed and just the facts of life to deal with."

He said Maori art is often hard to make a living off, but he said the positives of opening the store and doing something he was passionate about would outweigh his doubts.

Carving jade consists of more than just putting a tool to the stone, he said.

"It's also about the area the stone comes from and building relationships with the people or guardians of the stone. That's a big part of it too."

Mr Lewis said the time it takes to complete a pounamu carving varies.

"It could take a few hours or it could take as long as you like, 10 or 15 hours easy.

"It's very easy to get immersed in the material," he said.

Some of Mr Lewis' other carving work will be displayed at Rotorua Museum's Whakairo exhibition this weekend.

He said the exhibition was not only about promoting the artists behind the work but about creating awareness about Maori art.

"I think it's really important for people to have access to Maori art, in all its forms."

He said he was grateful to live in Rotorua, which he described as the country's Maori cultural capital.

"Maori visual and performing arts has really put Rotorua on the map."

He said he hoped his new jade store can help do that too.