So maybe this is a little random but... Yesterday I taught an art lesson to 6 boys on curvy lines. Their mothers asked me to make it fun and memorable so we drew them on their faces! (And put feathers in their hair, of course.) But I really enjoyed learning a little about the Maori people of New Zealand (I love Wikipedia) who inspired our little art project. Talk about rustic elegance.
This beautiful image of a Maori chief was created by Sydney Parkinson. Parkinson was the artist on Captain Cook’s first voyage to New Zealand in 1769....a simple fact I love for so many reasons.... The Maori describe themselves tangata whenua, which literally means “people of the land”. And I love how they’ve used the land to make such unique beauty. Notice the earring, necklace, woven cloak, hair comb, top knot, feathers, and of course the tattoos. The facial tattoos acted as an identity card of sorts and the man’s whole rank, status, birth order, lineage, occupation was all told in the lines on his face. A good tattoo artist would carefully study the warrior’s bone structure to enhance his natural beauty.
I also love that they call themselves Maori, which in their language means “normal”, “natural”, or “ordinary”. What a rich world we live in! While the Maori now face many struggles that are common to the indigenous peoples around the world, they are yet another reminder of the endless natural potential our land holds for beauty and different ways of living.
