Nearly Complete...

This is the fourth of five totems, and represents ones journey through life (in a Waka). I hesitated to use traditional Maori symbols, which are not part of my heritage, but the children at the school requested them, and their representative from local Iwi said twas fine, as those symbols had passed into common usage.  So,,, there is the 'Tiki' for good fortune and 'mana' for the journey, the fish hook 'Matua' for prosperity. and the Double twist 'Pikorua' for good relationships within community, and right at the bottom is the  Unfurling fern frond ,'Koru' for new beginnings. And of course the Silver Fern for New Zealand!

And the fifth and final one, twas too big to get one photo.... This represents the environment again, and the top photo shows the lake edge, with flax plants and a mother and baby Pukeko, the lower photo shows the flax flowers, with swan rising up from the water to flap its wings. Wherever it has made sense I have tried to keep the raw texture of the wood beneath the bark, which has such beautiful  fine markings in, almost like hair or fur. Such a privilege to work with Pohutakawa, So hard and so beautiful and sensual to touch.
Sorry to be so boring and factual on this post.... a day of wrestling settings on website etc has caused the logical brain to get a little uppity (and the creative side is curled up somewhere snoozing.....