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New
Zealand Country Women
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I
began this book over the years 1990 and 1991 while
studying photography at Elam School of Fine Arts,
University of Auckland.
I then worked on it again over 1995 and 1996 after
receiving a grant from Creative New Zealand to
complete the book.
Having grown up on a dairy farm myself, the representation
and celebration of New Zealand country women has
been an important focus for me - especially since
moving to the city.
The medium of photography has taken me into the
lives of many rural women all over New Zealand,
from the remote high country stations of the South
Island to the far north of the North Island.
Finding them, to begin with, occurred mainly through
word of mouth and the subsequent photographs and
interviews took place during a series of intensive
blocks of travelling.
More images from
the book >
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"Reviews"
"The photographs are breathtaking - each manages
to encapsulate the life of the woman featured making
the old saying "a picture is worth a thousand words"
ring true. In fact when I first got the book, all I
did was flip through the pages, thinking these great
photographs can't go right-through the book, they do."
"The book has obviously been put together with
a tremendous amount of respect for the women featured,
an understanding o their environments and a true love
of photography."
Brenda Webb, Marlborough Express
"My
praise of this beautiful publication is endless. Michelle
Moir deserves the highest accolades for her sensitive
presentation of our very own New Zealand country women.
This is a book many people, men and women, will be proud
to own. It's easy to read, thoroughly absorbing and
bursting with individual country stories which are told
by each women I her own words and her own environment.
Each page represents one person, one life - with such
honest and simple structure that it holds your undivided
attention. On the opposite page is Moir's black and
white portrait of that women. In every photo Moir has
captured the personal character, surrounded by her own
special environment, in such a way that it not only
completes the story - it reaches out and almost touches
you."
Pam Drylie, Capital Times
"New
Zealand Country women" is at once a tribute, a
celebration and a crafted mosaic. This New Zealand quilt
is stitched and woven with patience, love and great
insight by Michelle Moir. Not just a simple collection
of images and quotations, Michelle's photographs are
artistic and soulful. They capture and reflect the character
and temperament of the women's words that accompany
them.
There is a trust of the photographer evident. The country
women I know (and I know some of these personally) are
not poseurs. They are private people outside their communities.
They cannot be invited to contort for a camera in any
way where they are not completely comfortable. And they
do not have the time to be available for long photo
shoots." "This publication is a treasure.
So many of us all sought and yearned for such records
at different times in our lives, or a t collective moments
such as the centenary of suffrage in 1993. I celebrate
this publication, and congratulate all who have played
a part in New Zealand country Women."
Marilyn J Waring
More images from the 'New
Zealand Country Women' book >
Go to 'Images of Maori
Women' book >
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