Art Meets Craft - Joint issue with Sweden

Surrounded by the vibrant colours and resources of New Zealand's environment, our artists have always had a rich store of inspiration to draw on. And since the 1960s the global arts and craft movement has enjoyed a renaissance, which New Zealand has been a part of, and we now have a vigorous, exciting community of artists working in a variety of mediums.

The Art meets Craft stamp issue illustrated seven beautiful examples of New Zealand craft selected with the assistance of Creative New Zealand. The issue also explored the artistic link that has developed between New Zealand and Sweden, perhaps best demonstrated in the work of noted glass artists, Ola Höglund and Marie Simberg-Höglund. An example of their Graal work is featured in one of the two stamps issued jointly with Sweden Post.

The two joint issue stamps were produced using an engraving process. In this process, the engraver etches the design into a high quality steel plate. The paper is applied to the plate under pressure and forced into the grooves to pick up the ink. The ink actually stands above the paper surface which you can feel. The two joint issue stamps were engraved by Sweden Post's own highly regarded philatelic engraver, Lars Sjööblom.  Engravre is a popular feature of Swedish philately, and over 50 per cent of Sweden's issues feature the process.

Flax (joint issue) - 40c
Nelson-based Willa Rogers creates her contemporary basketry using a range of plant fibres she collects from around the region - pine needles, flax, watsonia, nikau and phoenix palm, cabbage tree and grapevine. Through her work, which is displayed in galleries throughout New Zealand, she strives to convey "a feeling for history and for the unknown and unsung artists of past centuries".

Wood - 40c
'Starfish Vessel' is made from Sheoak, mulga, paua shell, copper and metallic thread. Its strong natural patterns reflect the "sand, sea and creatures therein", drawn from Northland-based woodturner Graeme Priddle's love of New Zealand's coastline. This and other pieces from Graeme's 'South Pacific Vessel' series have been purchased for public and private collections nationally and internationally.

Clay - 80c
Raewyn Atkinson has worked with the ovoid bowl, drawing on her long time fascination with historical events and their effects on New Zealand's culture, on this occasion the early whalers. 'Catch II' was inspired by both the enormous three-legged trypots they used to render the blubber and the 'spotting chairs' which often carried a row of notches recording the tally of catches.

Silver - 90c
A brooch from a series of works by Nelson-based artist Gavin Hitchings. The series explores themes of the geophysical world and the ownership and exploitation of land. This piece, 'Vessel Form' is inspired by the Boulder Bank enclosing Nelson haven. Gavin is an artist member of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts and the recipient of numerous national awards and grants.

Glass - $1.30
Emma Camden works with light, creating smooth, richly coloured glass vessels that capture the rays that pass through them. Emma emigrated here in 1991 and enjoys exploring themes of migration and displacement. The towers, her reaction to soulless big city spaces, are from her recent Immigration Series. Emma has exhibited regularly in New Zealand, Australia and the United States.

Clay - $1.50
Features 'Pacific Rim' by Merilyn Wiseman. This white earthenware clay piece is 1.3 metres x 450mm x 380mm. It is hand built using clay slab construction - with a copper magnesium glaze. Merilyn attended Elam School of Art and Goldsmiths School of Art in London. She has received major Arts Council grants and won numerous awards including first prize in the Fletcher Brownbuilt Awards.

Glass (joint issue) - $2.00
Swedish-born Ola Höglund and Marie Simberg-Höglund settled in New Zealand in 1982 where they established Höglund Art Glass in Nelson. Ola and Marie's Scandinavian heritage is combined in their glass artwork, which reflects both the techniques and style of their training, and the freedom and beauty of their new country. Their use of colour in particular is refreshingly South Pacific.

Limited Edition Miniature Sheet
This miniature sheet was produced for inclusion in the 2002 Art from Craft Limited Edition Collectors Pack. Each sheet was individually numbered from one through to 2,000.

 Technical details

Date of Issue: 2 May 2002
Stamp Designer: Gardyne Design, Auckland, New Zealand
Printers: Sweden Post Stamps, Sweden (40c Flax and $2.00). Southern Colour Print, Dunedin, New Zealand (40c Wood, 80c, 90c, $1.30, $1.50)
Stamp Size: Swedish: 39.9mm x 31.25mm
New Zealand: 40mm x 30mm
Sheet Size: 50, Booklets of Four (Swedish Stamps only)
Paper Type: 103gsm red phosphor coated ltho stamp paper
Perforation: 14