invited to create art for the Matariki exhibition
held at Helium Gallery during June 2016.
The inspiration was the template of a kite 15cm by 9cm.
We could interpret how we pleased.
I chose to use the kite shape outlined on the base of three hunters.
These hunters were chasing the seven sisters through the night sky.
The Pleiades were the seven daughters of the Titan, Atlas, and the sea-nymph, Pleione.
After Atlas was forced to carry the heavens on his shoulders,
Orion began to pursue all of the Pleiades.
Zeus transformed them first into doves, and then into stars to comfort their father.
The constellation of Orion is said to still pursue them across the night sky.
Lord Tennyson wrote,
“Many a night I saw the Pleiades, rising through the mellow shade,
Glitter like a swarm of fire-flies tangled in a silver braid."
Here the Seven Sisters glitter like the dawn in their silver,
unaware of the Hunters chasing them across the night sky.