It was a three part trip - my partner, taonga puoro artist Jerome Kavanagh had a performance at The Lincoln Center to attend, I did a guest spot tattooing at NY Adorned, and I took over a capsule collection of art work to be exhibited at Ora Ny Gallery by the Toi Wāhine Collective. Phew it was an amazing whirlwind two trip and New York was so good to us, and I am so grateful to all of the inspiring conscious people we met over there!
Our Toi Wāhine Collective two day pop up shop at Ora Ny Gallery was off the hook!
I was very grateful to have esteemed contemporary Māori dancers Jack Grey, Louise Potiki Bryant, members of Altamira Dance Crew and their indigenous friends come and perform at our pop up shop on the final evening at the gallery.
Very grateful to New Zealand musicians Andrew White, Paddy Free of Pitch Black and Jerome Kavanagh for performing live in the gallery on both evenings at our pop up shop.
With my Navajo friend Precious at Ny Adorned after tattooing her.
Resin jewelry by Evelyn Ross that was part of the capsule collection I took to New York.
Hanging outside Ora Ny Gallery with New Zealand Photographer Nichola Clark and friend.
Moko completed for a Taranaki born client at Ny Adorned.
Dressed up and ready to roll out for one of my first nights in New York City!
With all of the amazing dancers that graced the exhibition space on the final evening of our pop up shop exhibition.
Kirituhi completed for an African-American woman at Ny Adorned.
The performance that my partner was invited to be a part of at The Lincoln Center was pretty awe inspiring!
I buzzed out on how many psychic shops were in NYC - they seemed to be as common as dairies are in New Zealand!
Taaniko work by Kui Topia that was part of the Toi Wāhine Collective pop up shop.
With New York based Māori gallerist John Royal and his daughter.
Kirituhi for my new friend Grace from Trinidad and Tobago at Ny Adorned.
Tattooing an American born Māori man at NY Adorned.
With new friends Keke and Giarna Te Kanawa, gallerist of Ora Ny Gallery.
Kirituhi at Ny Adorned for a Columbian woman.
Being a poser in the back of a New York yellow cab.
At Ora Ny Gallery.
With a Hawaiian Māoli woman that I met at the gallery, it was so great meeting so many Polynesians from all over in New York.
Outside Ny Adorned.
At the after party of The Lincoln Center performance, 'Calling All Dawns'.
With my new friends Tiff and Sammay at Ora Ny Gallery.
So awesome getting to meet indigenous First Nations performer, Supaman at The Shrine in Harlem.
A projected image of contemporary Māori jeweler, Keri-Mei Zagrobelna on the wall of Ora Ny Gallery as part of a moving portraits film installation by Pikihuia Haenga that was part of our pop up shop exhibition.
My New York family on the trip.
Partay time at the gallery once all the work was finished.
Posey posers.
With new friends Amy and Cristina at the gallery.
A selection of the capsule collection by Toi Wāhine Collective at Ora Ny Gallery.
With my new friend Sammay, Filipino dancer.
Moko completed for an American born Māori man at Ny Adorned.