Journal — WEarth

Koha Tū - A Special Gift

On Dec 31st 2010, I decided that I would paint a rock every day for 2011. If I did this, I would be nurturing my creativity and I would be able to share these special gifts, every day, with the world.

Kōhatu - Stone, Pukapuka - BooksJo Tito17 September 2024kohatu, painted rock, hand painted rock, booksComment

77 Days

77 Days is an upcoming book inspired by my commitment to writing 1,000 words daily during a winter house sit in 2023.

Pukapuka - BooksJo Tito19 July 2024inspiration, books, storytelling, writing, harakekeComment

Ko Wai Au - Who Am I

Ko Wai au? Who am I? From where do my waters flow and where shall they go to?

Water is wellbeing, water is life ,what is my purpose in life?

Wai - WaterJo Tito9 April 2024water, wai, ko wai au, digital storytelling, storytellingComment

Earth Water Light Stone

Connection to who we are as Māori is connected to place, land, water, sun, moon, stars. And when I ask myself, ko wai au? Who am I? I remember that I am wai, water.

Moeraki Boulders

Moeraki. It wasn’t so much the boulders themselves that struck me. It was how I felt when I saw them. And the space around them that intrigued me.

Kōhatu - StoneJo Tito23 June 2023kohatu, moeraki, moerakiboulders, tewaipounamuComment

He Kōrero Harakeke

Harakeke reminds me of my mother’s hands; each line, embedded with stories. She is the resilient nurturer who stands in all weather.

Ao Mārama - Light, Rākau - Exhibition, Wai - Water, Whenua - EarthJo Tito9 May 2023harakeke, wai, water, tree dye, native treeComment

Te Kore Series Toru

From te kore, the space of nothingness, all things are possible.

Rākau - ExhibitionJo Tito22 November 2022

Creating with Aotearoa Native Tree Dyes

I see art works that have been created, not necessarily as finished works, but conversations that are ongoing.

Wai - WaterJo Tito18 August 2022native trees, aotearoa, RākauComment

Papermaking at Anakoha

I love creating wharariki paper. It is so strong, just like it's whanaunga (relation) harakeke, but much easier to process because the leaves are already soft.

Wai - Water, Whenua - EarthJo Tito1 April 2022Comment

Whenua ki te Whenua

When my niece passed away Nov 2021, her passing helped me realise the meaning of this work. That we are born to live on this whenua…

Rākau - ExhibitionJo Tito31 March 2022Comment

Hā ki roto hā ki waho

This work talks about our evolution from fish and the importance of breath and the support structures in our bodies that support breath.

Rākau - Exhibition, Whenua - EarthJo Tito30 March 2022

Tukutuku Rākau

Tukutuku rākau - a work with many layers that slowly emerged over time, it speaks about the many stories of our rākau Māori embedded in our lives and landscapes.

Rākau - ExhibitionJo Tito17 March 2022

He Rau Harakeke

Harakeke for me is a journey, a reconnection back to who I am. Above and below the whenua it is buzzing with life and I am forever grateful for the many gifts I’ve received from this plant.

Rākau - ExhibitionJo Tito17 March 2022

Te Kore Series Rua

From te kore, the space of nothingness, all things are possible.

Rākau - ExhibitionJo Tito15 March 2022

Papatūānuku

If there is one message I want to share with any of these works, it is, to heal our whenua, because when we heal our whenua and our relationship to it, we heal ourselves.

Rākau - ExhibitionJo Tito6 March 2022Comment

Toi Tū

As an artist, I love to encourage other artists on their creative journeys, because creativity is innate in all of us and should be expressed.

Rākau - ExhibitionJo Tito5 March 2022Comment

Ko te wā i kura

Honouring the cycles of the moon and the cycles of wāhine.

Rākau - ExhibitionJo Tito3 March 2022

Kei Runga Kei Raro

A work that expresses my curiosity with what’s below the earth, the conversations had between trees through their roots and the importance of healthy soil for growing!

Rākau - ExhibitionJo Tito2 March 2022Comment