Oamaru Mail Article

A ‘‘labour of love’’ will soon take pride of place in the new Forrester Gallery extension.

Oamaru weavers husband and wife Rod and Sue McLean will have their ‘‘years in the making’’ Waitaki Tartan installed in the new gallery space next month when the gallery reopens and the new gallery space is completed.

Mrs McLean, a Friend of the Forrester, said it was amazing to be a part of the gallery’s new collection.

‘‘It’s really special because I’ve had so much to do with the Forrester over the last 30 odd years, and the tartan is quite special to Rod and I,’’ she said.

Also the owners of McLean & Co Weaving, the couple say the tartan reflects the district’s natural environment, its people — and their love for their new home.

Mr McLean said they were ‘‘ecstatic’’ about the Forrester Gallery display.

‘‘It’s so great, it’s been a long and slow process to get here,’’ Mr McLean said.

‘‘It’s a labour of love’’.

While the idea and plans for the tartan had developed over 15 years, Mrs McLean said it had taken over three years to physically create the product.

‘‘It was three years last November that we bought the raw fleece and from there it needed to be scoured, dyed and spun,’’ she said.

Mrs McLean said they acknowledged and appreciated the work done by Waitaha, Ngai Tahu, Vanished World, Waitaki Whitestone Geopark and Waitaki Culture and Heritage in guiding their understanding of the cultural, historical and geographical history of the Waitaki region.

‘‘The history of Waitaki tangata whenua is embedded in the landscape and the narrative of our region, as are those of the early European sealers, whalers and settlers, and those more recently settled here,’’ she said.

Forrester Gallery curator Anna McLean (no relation of Sue McLean) said they were ‘‘excited’’ to have the tartan as part of the new gallery space atrium.

‘‘So much thought and care has gone into its design and its production,’’ Miss McLean said.

‘‘It will be a privilege to be kaitiaki (guardian) for the tartan for years to come, and we are grateful for the opportunity to share it with our community on Rod and Sue’s behalf.’’

Miss McLean said the first 20m of the Waitaki tartan would be installed for six months only, due to preservation and conservation concerns, dropping down from anchor points and wiring below the skylight of the atrium ceiling.

‘‘Twelve metres of that fabric will hang while the remaining fabric rests on a plinth that people can walk around to view it,’’ Ms McLean said.

It will then become part of the permanent gallery collection of over 2500 taoka, she said.

‘‘A huge thank you to Naylor Love for their dedication and support throughout the extension build — we are honoured to be able to commemorate this milestone through their generous purchase of the Waitaki tartan,’’ Miss McLean said.