GREG MAITLAND - JADE/GREENSTONE CARVER Click here to view works   I first remember taking an interest in jade around the age of six years, when I spent a lot of time sitting in front of the fire in the jade workshop of Jim Staples, our close neighbour. He would tell fascinating stories about the stone. Jim had been playing with Jade since the 1940s and had many fine jade specimens and other interesting stones from all over the world. My Father worked on the Kanire gold dredge on the Arahura river and later on the dredge at the Taramakau river, often he would bring home jade that would otherwise have disappeared over the tail race stacker. When I became old enough to ride a bicycle we often made a day of it and would ride from Hokitika out to the Kawhaka creek and other hidden away places to look for jade. Learning to find Jade and knowing how to look for it has been a wonderful life experience. I first began carving in 1991, and after a very short stint at emulating pseudo Maori design. I call it Pseudo Maori, because most of the jade carvings to be found in tourist shops and called Maori design bears little resemblance to pre European Maori artifacts, yet is a continuation in the circle of possibility in design which always occurs when there is a mix of cultures and there becomes a consequence of interpretation. Early Westcoast carvers like the brilliant Peter Hughson, Ray Ansin and also Cliff Dalziell, Bill Mathison Snr, Theo Schoon and Don Salt of Whangarei have all made a huge influence on jade carving in New Zealand. Ray Ansin was the designer of the much reproduced twist, which is often sold accompanied by a plethora of deep spiritual meanings in order to extract a dollar or two from the pockets of awe inspired travelers. With the introduction of steel Maori pretty much abandoned working Pounamu (jade) Europeans are recorded as having worked jade in New Zealand since the 1870s. European working of jade and jadeite goes back 5000 years and is considered Europe’s first export with artifacts from Neolithic sites in Europe being found as far north as the Orkney ILS. Jade can still be seen being worked in Germany today Many of the designs in my work have personal spiritual meanings as that’s where my inspiration comes from, I spend a lot of my time contemplating and concentrating on the perfect ness of forms in nature. My other passions are my wife Veronika also a much valued critic and fellow artist. I am also addicted to growing trees. Thank you for taking the time to read my Profile.           WORKS       No products were found for your request.       Artists on Show : Andrew Craig - Wood Artist,   Anthony Apirana Manuel-Traditional Carver,   Bruce Abraham - Taxidermist,   Carolyn Hewlett-Glass Beads,   Daniel Vos - Wood Craftsman,   Frances Barlow - Weaver,   Gallery,   Greg Maitland - Jade/Greenstone Carver,   Helen Back - Sculptor,   Ian Boustridge - Jade Carver,   John Sepie - Wood Artist / Potter,   Marg Sexton - Multi Media,   Mark James-Ceramic Artist,   Mia Tennant-Stone Carver,   Mike Jephson - Free Form Pottery,   Ray Ansin-Glass Beads,   Rhys Hall- Sculpture & Adornment,   Robert Reedy-Glass Blower,   Seal Island Glass - Hand Blown Glass,   Veronika Maser - Multi Media Artist