Women share their connection to Horowhenua
Portraits of women accompanied by their stories are on display and connected by the common thread of finding a sense of belonging in Horowhenua.
The Shepherdess exhibition Our Voices Horowhenua is on display at Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-po¯ in Levin this month, where 20 women of all ages and walks of life share their connections to the region.
Amey Bell-booth, 42, remembered flicking through well-kept notebooks at her grandparents’ bach as child.
‘‘I feel and understand their deep connection to this landscape and I see where my love of it began, as a bare-bottomed babe making mud pies on the banks of Waikawa River.’’
She passed through for many years, living in Palmerston North or Wellington. But one day she stopped at the bach and stayed for two-and-a-half years, where she and her dog Frida would roam the beach every day.
‘‘It’s not just the landscape that draws me in, [it’s] the towns and the people – they hold onto their places, their stories and their artefacts – and they are willing to share them. They are honestwith no false pretences,’’ Bell-booth said in her story.
Project manager Kristymcgregor said the exhibition gave the women an opportunity to shine and share what was important to them, the trials they had been through and where they had found hope and fulfilment.
‘‘Each story is unique, but they are all connected by a common thread – finding a sense of belonging in the Horowhenua.’’
The women attended several writing workshops as part of the 12-month project, and worked with awriter to help put their experiences on paper.
‘‘For most of the women it was a very new experience to put their stories on paper and have them read by a general audience,’’ BellBooth said. ‘‘We wanted the women to feel empowered and have their voices heard.’’
A photographer travelled around the district to capture each woman in a place that was meaningful to them and their story.
‘‘The result is an exhibition that has a huge amount of heart. It’s women’s stories, in their own words.
‘‘We were really conscious of capturing the diverse range of people that live here. Our youngest participant is 23 and our oldest is 87.’’
Mcgregor was looking at taking the project to other rural communities, so their voice could be heard too.
The project is by Shepherdess and was supported by Creative New Zealand and the Horowhenua District Council through the Creative Communities Scheme.