““And still, after all this time, the Sun has never said to the Earth, ‘You owe me.’ Look what happens with love like that. It lights up the sky.” ”
Biography
Amie Redpath is a self-taught sculptor working mostly in the medium of hard stone. She has been practising since 2014.
Gravitating towards harder stones like andesite, argillite, and granite, Amie Redpath developed form-driven stone works on a smaller scale while honing her carving skills with functional mortar and pestles and vessels. She then moved on to create finer jewellery from harder stones such as argillite, agates, and pounamu. For medium sculptures, Redpath explored the female form, creating a series of busts, sea sponges, and seaweed vesicles. More recently, she has transitioned to medium to large-sized sculptures, creating a series of Pacific ancestors sitting atop wooden pou, a collaboration with her husband. These pieces are intricately engraved with Pacific designs, bird and sea life, and traditional tools like fish traps and hooks. Her vision is to create works that engage the public with a wider cultural perspective and reflect our ancestors' philosophies about the natural world.
Recognized for her high-quality work, Redpath has numerous pieces in private collections both in New Zealand and internationally. Her aspirations are to become an integral part of the New Zealand cultural landscape with large public sculptures that withstand time and influence future generations. Her success includes sales at her first Sculpture on the Shore in Devonport, Auckland.Amie became a sculptor of stone due to her lifelong love of rock and the natural world. She began crafting mortar and pestles 12 years ago. She has developed her practice to create jewellery and medium sized works. Amie is continually developing her skills and the vision of more oneness with Earth and each other.
Life began with a single cell, leading to an explosion of life on Earth. We are part of Earth. Our ancestors knew this deep within their beings. We are the air, the sea, the land, the plants, the animals. We are unique, yes. However, we must not forget that we are one with the Earth and all living beings.
Interconnection runs deep.
Curriculum Vitae : Amie Redpath
EXPERIENCE
Artist, Homeground Stonecrafted Limited, 2015- present
As a self-taught stone carver, Ngai Tahu and European descent, I reside in Te Tai Tokerau, New Zealand. My work began 12 year ago, with mortar and pestles, vessels and simple jewellery. More detailed sculptural vessels and sculpture are the areas which I have begun developing in more recent years. I predominantly use power tools: saws, angle grinders, hammer and chisel, drills.
Future artistic aspirations: to create larger sculpture and detailed sculptural vessels and jewellery while establishing myself as a well known New Zealand artist.
Areas of investigation and direction.
I wish the viewer to form a real connection with Nature; alongside the more refined world of our everyday lives.
Connecting the old with the new, to create ecological awareness and connection to Planet Earth.
Representing nature, ocean tidal rhythms, sea life , marine life in these stories, as I have strong connections to our oceans and their inhabitants.
- Investigating and honouring stories of Indigenous Peoples’ worldview in relation to humans and our place / part of the natural world, ownership of land, connection to earth, migration of peoples’ and wildlife, ocean stories.
I am drawn to the idea sculpting works which focus on personal, cultural and societal reflection. On the ways in which we can reconnect to the natural world on a deeper level, with the assistance of old beliefs and knowledge. I intend to do this by incorporating/referencing ancient art and practices, with new technologies, equipment and techniques.
Exhibitions and Events
Entry into R T Sculpture Awards, 2024
Sculpture on the Shore 2023, Outdoor. Sculpture, 2 works sold.
Sculpture on the Shore, 2023, Indoor Gallery
Kings College Art Sale 2023
Whangarei Heads Arts Trail, April 2023
Retail site, Womad 2023, March 2023
Key Resource Artist, Rock tent’ Collaborationz 2023,
King’s College Art Sale ‘Artbox’ and main gallery area, October 2022
Art Salon Exhibition , Fo Guang Yuan Art Gallery, Oct-December 2022
Sculpture Northland, Quarry Gardens, Whangarei, May 2022
Whangarei Heads Arts Trail, April 2022
Sculpture in the Garden, Whangarei 2021
Member’s Exhibition, Depot Artspace, Devonport, 2021
Collaborationz 2021, a collaborative 8 day workshop, head of Stone Section, with 70 New Zealand artists of numerous disciplines. Producing hundreds of artworks, auctioned off. 5/2021.
Whangarei Heads Arts Trail Exhibition, Reyburn House, 2020, 2021
Art in the Garden, curated sculpture tour in various private gardens around Whangarei , 2020
Feast, group exhibition, Waiheke Community Art Gallery, 8/2019
Whangarei Heads Arts Trail, Home Studio, 2019, 2020 (cancelled due to COVID-19).
Taste of Auckland, 200 plates, VIP marquee dinner, as requested by Roots Restaurant owner and Best Chef Winner (GoodFood Awards, 2018), December 2016.
Upcoming Events
Application for Sculpture In The Gardens, 2024, Auckland Botanic Gardens.
Whangarei Head Arts Trail, Easter 2024
Collaborations
Lyzadie Design Studio 2019 to present
Stone components of Candelabra and Bookends, Dance of Geometry Collection
Collaborationz 2021 and 2023, see details above.
Publications
Northern Advocate, November 2023, Sculpture on the Shore Article.
Salt. Chef Natasha McAller, October 2022
Hiakai, Modern Maori Cuisine. Chef Monique Fiso 2020
Cuisine Magazine: Issue 192,Jan 2019, p.24 Engraved platter and bowl, Mark McAllister, Winning Entry, Ōra King Salmons Awards 2018. p.60: Craggy Range Restaurants advertisement.
Cuisine Magazine: Issue 191, Nov 2018, p.19 Good Food Awards, photo introduction. p.52-3, On The Make article, photo and column. Good Food Awards Guide, front cover photo, p. 62, photo.
Commissions
Tahitian Pounder, Private. 2023
Cook Islands Pounder, Cook Islands Figure, Private 2023
Solomon Islands Pounder with ancestor figure. Black Granite, 400mm. Private. 2023
Hawaiian Tattoo Bowls, an Upcoming ‘Hawaiian Series’ Yenedakine (Chief of War) 2023
Mussel pendants, Private Commission 2023
Gabbro ring, Private Commission 2023
A series of pounders from around the Pacific, Solomon Islands, Hawaii, Cook Islands, Marquesas Islands; Private Commission 2023
Hawaiian traditional Poi Pounders, and mortars, ‘Hawaiian Series’ Yenedakine (Chief of War) November 2022
Goddess pendants, in pounamu x 3, for a previous private commission 2022
Pounamu bulge ring, private commission 2022
28cm molcajete, Basalt, 11/2021
Octopus pendant, Pounamu, 12/2021
Mahe pendant, Pounamu, 2/2021
Previous:Various private commissions of mortar and pestles, bowls and plates, nudes, jewellery.
Restaurant Commissions
2016: Micks, Orewa ;O’Connell Street Bistro,Auckland; Bistronomy, Napier; Roots, Lyttelton; Malo, Havelock North
2017: Roots, Lyttelyon; Clooney, Auckland ; Meredith’s, Auckland
2018: Hiakai, Wellington; Roots, Lyttelton; Kika, Wanaka; Craggy Range Vineyard, Hawkes Bay; Tantalus Estate Vineyard, Waiheke Island; Paperbark, Sydney; Saint Alice, Auckland
2019: Māha, Kerikeri; Tantalus Estate, Waiheke Island; The Grove, Auckland
2020: Mr. Morris, Auckland