We recognise that emotionally-charged celebrations such as Mother’s and Father’s Days can be tricky to navigate for some people. The nurturing role of a mother is not always fulfilled by one’s birth parent.
Therefore, in the spirit of Mother’s Day, our artists honour those who have nurtured us.
ANNA BALASOGLOU
Mama's life was hard coming to New Zealand from war-torn Romania in the 1950s and bringing up five children in a strange new country. She just turned 96 and is still vibrant and always has a big beaming smile for everyone. Mama is a great inspiration to me and I love her dearly.
SERENA BUONAGUIDI-HAYNES - Karen
I am very fortunate to have an amazing mum, a phenominal artist who bought my brother and I up with a designated room at home specifically for us to create, make stuff, and paint. All our external activities involved art galleries, drawing and pottery classes. We are so lucky that she felt art was important and how awesome all three of us get to make a living being creative everyday.
KIRSTY NIXON - Holly
How fortunate to have difficulty choosing my influential ’mother’ figure! The term ‘Mother’ has evolved and now ‘Mothers’ or mothering is not limited to the traditional birth mother definition. And I’m turning it on its head. My old soul daughter has no idea how much she has influenced and grown my life. Losing my mother 5 years ago was devastating and I never thought there could a mother/daughter relationship to compare. But Holly and I are mothers to each other every day. This girl has opened my eyes to life. Pushing me gently to live, explore, be brave and open my eyes to opportunity. She is incredible.
She is my little mum. My actual mother would be so proud.
She is one of the hardest workers I know and not just in the traditional sense, but even her “down time” looks like work to most.
For the longest time I thought her kind of work ethic was normal and I didn’t think much of it. I hate to say, but it was even expected. If she was sitting idly, we assumed she was sick!
The sacrifices, the long hours, the support she gives day in day out to her whānau, hapū and iwi is immense.
Now that I too have to juggle life’s priorities being a wife, mama, co-worker and artist, I’ve come to appreciate the support and sacrifice my Mum has made for me and my whānau over the years. I know I’m very lucky to have box seats to be learning from one of the greatest Māori women leaders of today. Not many days go by without us talking and I’d be truly lost without her.
This Mother’s Day, I’ll be spending time with my Mum, my sister and our whānau. We usually come together for kai at some point that day and I’m sure this year will be no different.
