Pip Devonshire

Pip Devonshire (born 1966) is a New Zealand weaver, curator and weaving tutor. Part of the iwi (tribes) of Ngāti Te Au, Ngāti Manomano and Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga, Devonshire descends from several notable weavers. She began weaving in the 1980s and graduated from Te Wānanga o Raukawa with a bachelor's degree of design in art in 2000, after which she lectured there two decades. Her works have been exhibited in various New Zealand institutions and galleries, including in the national museum Te Papa. She has also curated various exhibitions and as of 2023 works as a curator at the Mahara Gallery in Waikanae.

Pip Devonshire
Born1966 (age 56–57)
Alma materTe Wānanga o Raukawa
Occupations
  • Weaver
  • curator
  • weaving tutor
Relatives
WebsiteOfficial website

Biography

Devonshire was born in 1966.[1] She is part of the iwi of Ngāti Te Au, Ngāti Manomano and Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga.[2] Her grandmother Rangimahora Reihana-Mete and great-grandmother Ranginui Parewahawaha Leonard were also weavers.[3][4] She learned to weave kete whiri (woven baskets) at Paranui Marae, Himatangi, in the 1980s,[2] and credits her grandmother with inspiring her style and techniques, including the use of unusual materials and contemporary designs.[3][5] In 1994 she created tukutuku for Taumata o Te Rā marae and kōwhaiwhai for her whare tūpuna (ancestral house).[6]

After graduating from Te Wānanga o Raukawa with a bachelor's degree of design and art in 2000,[6] Devonshire taught weaving there for 20 years.[2][7] From 23 September to 24 December 2005 she and fellow tutor Elaine Bevan were based in the United States as part of the Eternal Thread exhibition hosted by the Hallie Ford Museum of Art; as part of this exhibition they gave weaving demonstrations and were part of panel discussions and lectures.[8]

In 2020 Devonshire and Sonia Snowden were announced as the first Ngā Aho Whenua Weavers in Residence at the Toi Matarau Gallery, part of the Māoriland Film Hub in Ōtaki.[7] During this residency Devonshire curated the exhibitions Te Ringa Māhorahora and Te Rōpū Wāhine Toko I Te Ora of Te Awahou; the latter commemorated the 70 years of work of the Māori Women's Welfare League.[7] In 2020 Devonshire also contributed to an exhibition at the Mahara Gallery in Waikanae in celebration of Matariki titled Toi Whakarākai: Ngā Aho o te Whenua, featuring Te Wānanga o Raukawa staff and students.[9]

She has been involved with the Te Taitoa Māori o Te Awahou Trust, and acted as its spokeswoman in relation to the building of the cultural and community hub Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom.[5]

As of 2023 she sells her own weaving and is a curator at Mahara Gallery.[2] A poi she created is held in the collection at Te Papa.[10]

References
  1. "Devonshire, Pip, 1966–". National Library of New Zealand. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  2. Battersby, Shandelle (2 August 2023). "Artist Pip Devonshire weaves beautiful artworks using customary plants". NZ House & Garden. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  3. Duff, Michelle (16 November 2007). "Woven into history". Manawatu Standard. p. 2. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  4. "Print of Ranganui Leonard and great granddaughter". Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  5. Schroeter, Miri (6 October 2017). "Budget problems for soon-to-be-opened Foxton culture and community centre". Manawatu Standard. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  6. "Eternal Thread". Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  7. Winiata, Whatarangi. "Kairaranga". Toi Māori Aotearoa: Māori Arts New Zealand. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  8. "Weavers to join US exhibition". The Dominion Post. 21 September 2005. p. B6. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  9. "Matariki exhibition opens at Mahara Gallery". Kapiti News. 13 July 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  10. "Poi muka awe (percussive device)". Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
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