Colour My Autumn - Connie Takarangi

Connie Takarangi is a Textile Artist with a unique style of creating garments and accessories through re-purposing.

In her exhibition 'Colour My Autumn', Connie shares her fasination with the changing colours and textures of Autumn in her own unique creative way. Making garments that live outside the realms of mainstream fashion, gives people the opportunity to become part of her wider narrative of being mindful in how we take care of the world around us.

She is able to highlight her ethos of Reuse, Recycle, Repurpose, Rethink, in a colourful way, where in her hands she transforms that which is second hand into something useful, beautiful and quirky.

"Looking at the discarded nature of Autumn is a cycle where that which is discarded will be used by nature to put back into its own system to regenerate. I too look at things that are discarded and how I may incorporate them into my mahi, blending and working my magic so that they will be regenerated into a new life."

Using recycled garments, fabric remnants, broken jewellery and everyday objects there is a story within every garment Connie creates. "The glistening colour palette, the fragility of leaves as they decay, and the earthiness of texture and earth colours, are all elements that are told in my interpretation of Autumn."

Connie likes to engage with the public in her mahi and is holding school holiday workshops during the April School holidays with funding assistance from Creative Taupo. See the Taupo Libraries and Museum holiday programme for more information.

"I want to be able to bring my work into the public arena where they are able to engage with me. This is an enhancement for all Creatives because when we interact more with the public and our community it enriches our own practice as well as providing an informative window for the public to see what we do and to understand the process of our practices".

Taupo Museum is open 7 days (except Easter Friday) and entry is free for local ratepayers and all children. Adults $5, Seniors and Students $3.

There will be a small charge for Connie's holiday workshops.