Traditional skills to be taught at Pompallier Mission

New Zealand Historic Places Trust Information release
9 November 2007

Pompallier Mission - New Zealand's only surviving pioneer printery - will host a workshop on traditional printing and bookbinding during the first week of December.

Master printmaker Marty Vreede and Bookbinder Marilyn Ngahuia Vreede will teach students in the traditional use of the pre-Industrial Revolution printing tools and equipment at the New Zealand Historic Places Trust property in Russell, Bay of Islands.

"We are delighted to be able to create this great opportunity for people from the Bay of Islands area who have an interest in printing, bookbinding, arts and crafts - or are simply interested in learning from the best," says the Manager of Pompallier Mission, Kate Martin.

"Marty Vreede is the Chair of the New Zealand Print Council and Senior Lecturer in Printmaking at the Fine Arts School in Whanganui. Marilyn Ngahuia Vreede is a skilled linguist and bookbinder, as well as Maori educator and Hau Ora Maori worker. Both have had long-term involvement with Pompallier Mission over the years and it's great that they're so willing to lead this initiative."

Last December, Marty and Marilyn used Pompallier Mission's historic presses to create an illustrated edition of artists books entitled Mo Maria that explore relations between Pompallier Mission in Russell with Lyon in France and the Whanganui River.

This year, the tutor artists will use the reproduction plates from the book to teach traditional book production techniques used at the printery in the 1840s.

"In addition to the hands-on printing and bookbinding experience, Pompallier Mission staff will also teach students the history of pioneering print culture in New Zealand, and Pompallier Mission's wider place in the history of New Zealand, the Pacific and beyond," says Kate.

"It's very appropriate that the workshop takes place here. This is the place where Bishop Pompallier and his Marist missionaries produced nearly 40,000 texts in Maori in eight years - a stunning achievement. The building is also the sole representative today of the introduction of print culture and literacy to this country, and in many ways is the heart of printing in New Zealand."

The 5-day workshop is supported by the Lion Foundation, who provided a grant of $3000 for the project.

"We were struck by the originality of the workshop idea, the project's national heritage significance as well as the obvious community links the workshop will foster," says Dave Fraser of the Lion Foundation.

"We're very excited to be a part of this tremendous initiative in Northland."

The Traditional Printing and Bookbinding Workshop will take place December 3-7. Because there are only limited spaces, apply early by contacting Ph 09-403-9015 or emailing pompallier@historic.org.nz. Entry by koha to the tutors.