Louise is an artist and art educator and was the founder and director of the community arts organisation ArtSpark. She has a Fine Arts background, and worked for several years in ceramics production, as a designer and decorator at Morris and James Pottery, and at the Garden Party Factory. Born in the Solomon Islands, where her mother served meals on Crown Lynn plates, Louise now lives in West Auckland and has a fascination with Crown Lynn and a passion for the company’s history and products. Louise is enthusiastic about the potential of Te Toi Uku to play a lively role in the Whau community and to communicate the Museum’s story to a wider regional and national audience. Since starting her role at the museum, Louise has lead the The Hands That Made Crown Lynn project—documenting the stories of Māori and Pacific workers in the Crown Lynn factory—and has just begun research on Dave Jenkin, the factory’s head designer.
Louise will delve into the fascinating history and cultural significance of the Crown Lynn factory. Attendees will gain insights into the intricate connections between the people, companies and products involved in our vibrant ceramics heritage, and the profound impact it has had on our local community. Louise will explore the Gardner and Parker Bros kiln as the last remaining structure of this industry, highlighting the importance of the artistic and technical aspects of the creation of Crown Lynn Pottery.
