a gathering of talents
MEET THE SELECTION OF CREATIVE GO- GETTERS SARAH AND BEX HAVE ENCOURAGED TO SELL THEIR WARES AT THE MARKETPLACE ONLINE STORE
Elise Rutherford, photographer
Photographer Elise Rutherford ( 25) knows what it takes to be a rural woman – she literally wrote the book on it. As a fine arts student at Canterbury University, she photographed and wrote an ode to women in agriculture called Inside Out. Growing up on a North Canterbury deer farm provided plenty of inspiration for her love of photography, and her camera is never far from hand when she’s at Craigforth Farm in Pigeon Bay, Akaroa, where she lives with her partner Angus. Whether working on the farm, shearing or on a motorbike, the camera is her constant companion. An aspiring National Geographic photographer, Elise’s images are of rolling landscapes painted with the seasons, of solemn sheep in stockyards and wellwrapped merino tiptoeing through crisp snow in Omarama. She sees herself as a storyteller, telling tales through her images of farming life, beauty, grit, hard work and moments of ease. eliserutherford.com
McLean & Co, weavers
Rod and Sue McLean never planned on becoming artisan weavers. It all sort of fell into their lap – as much as three 100-year- old cast- iron looms can. The Oamaru couple became the owners of the rare Hattersley Domestic Weaving System (the looms) in 2006 after a chance meeting with their previous custodian. “The lady before us wanted to sell them to someone who would honour the tradition, understand the looms and love them. She knew I had a creative background in embroidery and that Rod was a plumber and therefore good with fixing things – we were the perfect fit.” During the following decade, Rod not only completely restored the machines but also discovered all there was to know about the looms, which were once used in the rehabilitation of World War I soldiers in the Isle of Harris in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides. Sue joined him full time in 2014 and together the couple weave, sew and sell tartan and woven items under the brand McLean & Co. “We’ve found a real niche market of people looking for traditional fabrics – but something different,” says Sue. “We’ve taught ourselves everything through trial and error, using whatever wool we can afford. And now we are able to work full time, taking commissions and creating beautiful textiles. More people are moving away from mass- produced and want something with soul that’s locally made.” It was the demand for the distinct that encouraged Rod, Sue and friends to open an artisans’ collective called Crafted in Oamaru’s historic precinct. It’s also how they came to find The Marketplace – the McLeans are currently weaving the Dome Hills tartan for Sarah and her mother- in- law Cindy from the wool of Cindy’s black sheep. “It’s such a wonderful time to have a small business. We may feel like we are working in isolation, but we are all connected.” mcleanandco. nz