Travel on the Gravel

It's been a long time since the last posting to this weblog, the explanation for which is the press of work in the latter part of the term. I write now from Fort Worth, a pleasant place to unwind and to indulge--having sampled, yesterday, Kincaid's hamburgers, Fuzzy's tacos, and Angelo's barbeque, all in one day. Yesterday the culinary arts, and today the visual arts, as we head off for the museum district.

In the meantime, back in April I left off posting images from the New Zealand expedition, and so now I resume the travel narrative in the high country of Central Otago. The images here come from the Lindis District, specifically from Tarras, and more specifically from the nearby Tarras Church--a lovely country church that alternates between Anglican and Presbyterian services. Our mission here was to photograph and study the famous Tarras Church kneelers, made by the women of the district in celebration of the centennial of women's suffrage in New Zealand (1893-1993). These are amazing pieces of iconography by which the women selected, crafted, and presented images of family and district history. There is much more to say about that, but for the moment, here are just a few images.

Tarras Church, surrounded by pines
Kneelers stacked on the pews, awaiting use
Tarras School kneeler, made by Kath Templeton, I believe, and featuring the old wagon hauled to the school grounds by the legendary gold miner, Waddie Thompson
Lindis Hotel kneeler, made by Spin Lucas of Nine Mile Station, to commemorate this historic site--note the Lombardy poplars, the rabbits, the briar
Gillespie's Service Station kneeler, made by Elsie Gillespie in memory of the business she and Rae had in Tarras