Elke Radewald
Flax Weaving and Fibre Art
Elke Radewald is a flax weaver whose specialtyis to combine colour with unusual forms.
"The mouth talks and the hands weave" is a saying that fits well with a passion for weaving with Harakeke/flax.
’Stupid o clock’ is another weavers expression because often the flow of creativity reaches well into the night. Elke often finds her inspiration for colourful flax weavings at the edge of sleep etching them into her brain that she can remember it in the mornings.
Since Elke has a day time job that can be testing at times. Elke has a psychological clinic in Whangarei. Her mission is to encourage people to work with natural fibres, to let any fears go of not being “good enough”, to be brave with colours and for people to connect and heal through weaving.
All her life Elke has been content if there was an outlet for creativity. In her younger years back in Germany Elke was a passionate knitter and silk painter. When settling in subtropical Northland she made the choice to leave all those jumpers behind thinking that in the winterless North of NZ she would not have any need for it.
Together with her husband they developed their lifestyle block in Bream Bay with great vigour. With Elke working full time there was too little time but in the most recent years the lifestyle idea has lost its attraction. However for Elke it is a particular pleasure that her carefully developed Pa Harakeke does provide her with her own source of flax.
Elke mostly enjoys Raranga weaving wall hangings, Kete and Pikau (Backpacks) which she learnt from her fellow weavers from Whirinaki at Pa Te Aroha Marae.For four years Elke has been a student of the Hetet School of Maori Art and this course has taken her further into weaving with Muka, the fibre of the flax. She currently works on her first Korowai which she will hopefully have finished by the time her citizen ceremony for NZ will take place.
Elke has exhibited her work in exhibitions (solo and group exhibitions in Whangarei, Kokohu and Waiheke) and museums. She participated with friends in Wearable Arts in Waipu and Paparoa.
Elke takes commissions and particularly enjoys working with clients who actively want to participate in designing personalized gifts such as backpacks in a pattern (Kete Whaikaro) or a choosing a colour scheme suitable to a special person. Elke has a home studio which is open by appointment only.
Contact Elke: elraka@xtra.co.nz
09-4381542 or 0273710720
Facebook: Limestone Flax weaving
Elke Radewald is a flax weaver whose specialtyis to combine colour with unusual forms.
"The mouth talks and the hands weave" is a saying that fits well with a passion for weaving with Harakeke/flax.
’Stupid o clock’ is another weavers expression because often the flow of creativity reaches well into the night. Elke often finds her inspiration for colourful flax weavings at the edge of sleep etching them into her brain that she can remember it in the mornings.
Since Elke has a day time job that can be testing at times. Elke has a psychological clinic in Whangarei. Her mission is to encourage people to work with natural fibres, to let any fears go of not being “good enough”, to be brave with colours and for people to connect and heal through weaving.
All her life Elke has been content if there was an outlet for creativity. In her younger years back in Germany Elke was a passionate knitter and silk painter. When settling in subtropical Northland she made the choice to leave all those jumpers behind thinking that in the winterless North of NZ she would not have any need for it.
Together with her husband they developed their lifestyle block in Bream Bay with great vigour. With Elke working full time there was too little time but in the most recent years the lifestyle idea has lost its attraction. However for Elke it is a particular pleasure that her carefully developed Pa Harakeke does provide her with her own source of flax.
Elke mostly enjoys Raranga weaving wall hangings, Kete and Pikau (Backpacks) which she learnt from her fellow weavers from Whirinaki at Pa Te Aroha Marae.For four years Elke has been a student of the Hetet School of Maori Art and this course has taken her further into weaving with Muka, the fibre of the flax. She currently works on her first Korowai which she will hopefully have finished by the time her citizen ceremony for NZ will take place.
Elke has exhibited her work in exhibitions (solo and group exhibitions in Whangarei, Kokohu and Waiheke) and museums. She participated with friends in Wearable Arts in Waipu and Paparoa.
Elke takes commissions and particularly enjoys working with clients who actively want to participate in designing personalized gifts such as backpacks in a pattern (Kete Whaikaro) or a choosing a colour scheme suitable to a special person. Elke has a home studio which is open by appointment only.
Contact Elke: elraka@xtra.co.nz
09-4381542 or 0273710720
Facebook: Limestone Flax weaving
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