Tapa cloth

Rectangular-shaped tapa cloth covered with repeating geometric designs. Single-line border encloses three lengthwise rows of six repeating patterns, all in black and ochre. One row is diamonds, the second has circular designs, the last has a design of overlapping four-pointed stars. Each repeating pattern is in a square with symmetrical quadrants.

Tapa cloths from the Pacific

18 x 22" acrylic paint on handmade tapa cloth from Tongo, 2009 SOLD

Forget all of those Hawaiiana fabric prints made for Aloha shirts and muumuus. The traditional, in fact only, fabric known by the ancient Hawaiians was the

Traditional tongan cloth made by beating the leaves of the pandanas tree or the bark of the mulberry tree

Tongan Style at Fresh Gallery, Otara, is an exhibition of works by five Auckland based Tongan women who have translated traditional style Tongan art, such as the designs of tapa cloth, into more contemporary mediums of embroidery and crochet. This carries traditional themes utilizing materials which became available when Westerners arrived. They have created an art which incorporates cultural wealth as well as use, such as linen for occasions and clothing. Fresh Gallery is located in an area…

Maintaining traditional practices has been a challenge for Fijians living in New Zealand. Some skills, such as creating the intricate and distinctive Fijian tapa cloth known as masi, are maintained through craft workshops. Mereia Johnston, pictured in 1996...

Vintage Tapa- Masi from Fiji

Thanks for commenting Jennifer and Isabelle. I think our group does work of quite a high standard from what I see elsewhere. ( overseas even ) I wonder if you are like me ? When I see a fabric display like the batiks ( that tell you Milton Wright is here )in all the colours of the rainbow I get a real buzz just standing and drinking in the wonderful colours and how they look along side their neighbours. ( Displays of cottons; wools; coloured pencils or pens all do it for me. ) Luckily Milton…

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