Ahakoa he iti, he pounamu: Although it it small, it is a treasure

With the change of season settling in with crisper mornings (and in some of our towns, the iconic Waikato fog rolling in!) the CW team has been reflecting on little pieces of wisdom, learning or inspiration that we carry in our creative lives. 

Scott:
There are a handful of quotes and phrases I keep close to my writing desk at home, in sight, generally for when writer’s block or distraction rears its miserable head. Words collected over the years, little things that jump out, ideas and thoughts that seem too precious to slip through the fingers of a loose memory.

So these words get written down on scraps of paper, borrowed wisdom from others that when reread in instances of doubt or idleness can help to reignite a spark.

‘Occasional brilliance’ is one phrase that I go back to time and again. It makes sense to me that we don’t need to strive for perfection. A level of messiness can be quite a glorious thing in the creative sphere. 

Jeremy:
One thing I often reflect on is a description of the creative process as being like ‘a foggy field’ which was articulated by composer Philip Glass. He essentially says that the process of writing music is like looking at a foggy field. In the beginning it might seem like there is nothing there, but as you keep looking you start to get a sense of things. Details start to emerge from the fog and the form begins to take shape. The more you spend time with it the more the sounds become clearer. 

This is a helpful reminder to keep playing, to allow the shapes and details to emerge – even if you are imagining and building shapes out of the fog, that is still somewhere to start. (I even made a piece about it!)

Alexis:
For those who have been with me on my creative journey, you will know this one…
“If you dream you can imagine, but if you believe you can become”. This saying (I have zero idea where it stems from) was engraved on a trophy of the studio I spent my years growing up in. As a kid, they were words spoken in a beautiful, inspirational voice during prizegiving but never really landed. NOW… It’s a different story.

If I hear these words now, I am transported back to a time where community came together and truly believed in something bigger. Where dreams and imagination turned into reality (albeit in a small community hall), and where a simpler time existed. These words help me remember where I came from and the people I shared that time with. All part of the journey that helped me become who I am.

Aimee:
One of my favourite poems of all time is titled ‘Sometimes’ by Mary Oliver. In it are four lines that I carry around, and have up on the wall where I see it every morning, 

Instructions for living a life:
Pay attention. 
Be astonished.
Tell about it.

I’m really interested in the magic in the everyday, or what Florence Welch talks about in the work of Nick Cave:  ‘the transcendent and the ordinary[…]the mystical and the mundane’. This idea of being curious and open to the unexpected (and sometimes even the slightly mysterious) helps me not only in my creative work, but also in my wider life too. It keeps me present and paying attention, and looking for wonder. 

Hannah:
“The butterflies mean that you care about what you’re doing, channel them into creating something great!” – from the wise words of… my ever supportive mum! I can vividly remember a young Hannah anxiously awaiting in auditions, rehearsal rooms, stage wings not knowing if I was going to be good enough or brave enough with mum’s reassuring words echoing in my ears. 

I guess the reason this advice sticks so strongly with me is because when you boil it down, the sentiment of doing or trying something despite the fierce swarm of “nervous butterflies” (eg: performing, trying a new skill, making mistakes) may actually bring you joy from creating and using your talents! 

This is advice that I have taken into other areas of my life outside of my creative practice too… If something scares you or makes you nervous, do it anyway as it may lead to some beautiful growth and opportunities!

Evelyn:
A few years ago, as you do at the beginning of a year, I bought myself a nice new notebook with the promise of being organised and on-top of things. This notebook was on the clearance table at Typo and read “Cautiously Optimistic” on the front cover, which at the time I thought was funny and enjoyed the humour. I didn’t think much of it and just bought it, super stoked with my new stationary purchase.

Well. My partner saw this and the catch-phrase on the front and he really challenged it! To paraphrase, he basically said it was passive and even cynical. Perhaps as if you may just be sitting there, cautiously hoping for the best and taking no action to make it so.

He took a sticky note and scribbled something new on it and stuck it over the cover.

“Brave and Prepared”

You can create your own success, if only you are brave and are prepared by doing the mahi. It is unlikely to happen by accident. This humble little sticky note now sits in my study, blu-tacked on as the stick has since long gone, as a reminder to myself that I’m capable when I embody these two things.

Des:
During my Honours in Visual Arts study in 2023, I was fortunate enough to do a deep dive into my creative practice and explore themes, in the context of contemporary embroidery, that inspire me.  One of these concepts was the concept of Vā, ‘a space between’ expanded upon by Samoan poet and author Albert Wendt, Vā is:

[T]he space between, the betweenness, not empty space, not space that separates but space that relates, that holds separate entities and things together in the

Unity-that-is-All, the space that is context, giving meaning to things. The meanings change as the relationships/the contexts change (Wendt, 1996).

In 2022, I received my tatau, a traditional Samoan tattoo. The malu ‘diamond’ motif both reflects my matrilineal line, and is also a symbol for protector/shelter. The ‘space’ within my matrilineal line (great grandmother, grandmother, mum, me) is one in the same, it is the past moving forward into the present moment.  Simultaneously a source of strength and inspiration for me.

Kereama:
Once were Warriors;

When this movie came out, the theme song was called ‘The Theme song for Once Were Warriors’ or ‘The Awakening’ which was composed by a very talented guitar player, Tama Renata. In the middle of this song a whakataukī was chanted ‘E hara taku toa’

This whakataukī has been with me ever since and I hold close as I believe in this whakataukī whole heartedly. Our journey and accomplishments in life are because of the aroha and guiding support of those around us and we must always acknowledge those people and tupuna throughout the journey.

I also had the privilege to play this song alongside Tama and his brother Chubb.

The whakataukī;
‘Ehara taku toa i te toa takitini, engari, taku toa takitini e’
‘My strength is not of mine alone, but the strength of many’

Adrienne:
‘It’s always coldest before the dawn’

This phrase is a variation of the older proverb, “It is always darkest just before the Day dawneth”, attributed to English theologian Thomas Fuller in 1650. The metaphor is around hope and resilience, when challenges seem unbearable, a breakthrough or solution is likely imminent.

Scientifically, the ‘darkest’ part is disputed. However, it does appear that the ‘coldest’ part holds some truth.

But I love this saying because it always reminds me of the 5am performance of the Hamilton Summer Shakespeare. Both as an actor, and an audience member.

Image credit:
Tatau by Su’a Tyla Vaeau,
Vaeau Family Studio