About Michael and Kathy Sass
Michael and Kathy Sass migrated to Tauranga, New Zealand from Knysna,South Africa in 2000 with their Staffordshire, Sarah to be with their two daughters Tracey and Carron and their grandchildren, Benn and Hannah. Their elder daughter,Tracey, married Darren, a New Zealander from Te Puke.
From the time that they first arrived, they were captivated by the flow and energy of the traditional Maori carvings out of bone and jade.
Having been in business all their lives, Michael pursued art seriously for the first time when he semi-retired in 1998. Art has always been his first love and, although during his school career he won many prizes for art, he was not encouraged to do art as a career because it “was not a proper job”. He had been taught throughout his life to be handy with his hands and was privileged to grow up with a father who had a fully equipped workshop with all the tools required to create. There was very little he could not create and was rewarded when he built all the cupboards and kitchen fittings in his and Kathy’s first home out of sought after recycled indigenous timber and was featured in the South African Garden and Home magazine. He did two painting courses with the celebrated South African artist Dale Elliot in 1998 and has been painting ever since. His preferred medium is pastel but he also does oils and acrylics – mostly in landscape realism. Soon after arriving in New Zealand, he pursued his love of Maori carvings and did a one-day course in bone carving. He made a beautiful pendant for Kathy in the style of the hook and she wears it with pride. Michael did a course in picture framing so that he could frame his own paintings. After a few years of studying the Maori carvings and the traditions behind them, the idea of making very large carvings and box framing them was born. Michael was a long board surfer in his youth and working with fibreglass and resin was second nature to him. Thus New Zealand Art Reproductions was born. Michael shapes the forms himself and casts them in resin, carefully tinted to resemble bone and jade.
The carvings in the carved wood range are carved by Maori carvers in Rotorua, New Zealand's thermal centre.
Michael box frames the wooden carvings and his cast resin range to create beautiful artworks.
About Daniel
Kia ora, my name is Daniel Ririnui from Ahi designs.
Ahi designs is based in New Zealand, Tauranga Moana situated in the east coast midway of the north island.
Tauranga is well known for its lush native forest and beautiful beaches which make this destination a great getaway in the pacific.
I am of Ngaiterangi and Ngati Ranginui descent and proudly live in the Tauranga region.
It is my intention to bring a broad contemporary approach unique to my graphic design business.
My vision is to exemplify flair, acknowledge my cultural and ancestral inspirations, creating an environment that is vibrant, culturally new age (yet respectful) and enjoyable. I hope these aspects will be the foundation of a wonderous journey of discovery throughout my interpretations of Maori contemporary expression.
I would also like to thank and embrace all masters at work, creators of technology and artists worldwide from the past to the present for your knowledge and inspiration.
