The Language Of Wood
Three Diverse Perspectives
A new collaborative exhibition, The Language of Wood, brings together three Taupō-based artists to explore wood as a material, a metaphor, and a storyteller. Featuring the work of Sally Ann Davies, Angela Zajonskowski, and Jodie Appleton, the exhibition celebrates the distinct disciplines of woodcut printing, woodturning, and pyrography.
Though their methods differ—carving, shaping, and burning—the artists are united by a shared reverence for the whenua (land) and the concept of kaitiakitanga (guardianship).
The Artists
Sally Ann (Woodcut Prints): Driven by the shifting light of the natural environment, Sally’s multi-layered prints reflect a career ignited by a pivotal moment. After years as an educator, a 2011 cataract surgery granted her a new clarity of vision, sparking a dedicated pursuit of printmaking where the wood acts as both canvas and collaborator.
Angela (Artistic Woodturning): Rooted in heritage, Angela revived a family tradition seven years ago after uncovering her father’s lathe. Her delicate vessels and sculptures celebrate the grain and character of timber, using pattern and texture to honor the whakapapa of the wood and the land it grew from.
Jodie (Pyrography): Specializing in the intricate art of woodburning, Jodie creates tactile, enduring drawings that draw the viewer into Aotearoa’s native forests. Her work uses fine detail and constructed forms to explore the living bond between identity and the ngahere (bush).
A Call to Reconnect The exhibition is both a celebration and a call—to appreciate the beauty of local volcanic landscapes and to care for them with the future in mind. Through their combined imagery and symbolism, the artists hope to evoke a sense of responsibility for "our place," encouraging nature as a space for reflection and restoration.
"What binds this mahi together is a deep respect for the stories that arise from the land," the artists share. "We want to draw people back to the bush, celebrating what it offers us now while protecting it for generations to come."
The Language of Wood - Three Diverse Perspectives
Arts Inc. Heretaunga,
106 Russel Street South, Hastings
18th May - 30th May 2026
Opening - Sunday 17th May - 3pm - all welcome
Meet the Artists - Sunday 24th May - 10am - 4pm
