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Photo credits to Pip Steel

Boro – Timeworn Textiles of Japan

Curated by Pip Steel

24 September - 7 December

Opening event
24 September, 4pm - 7pm

Please rsvp your intention to attend the opening event by emailing your name and number attending to info@morrinsvillegallery.org.nz

This exhibition is a celebration of those layered connections: across oceans, through whakapapa, and within the weave of the fabric itself. Each piece invites us to reflect on the lives and stories embedded in the work, the materials, and the hands that shape them.

Come and experience these powerful works—crafted with reverence, rooted in history and resonant with meaning.

An exhibition of extraordinary quality and subject –

We are thrilled to present Boro – Timeworn Textiles of Japan, a unique and visually compelling exhibition that showcases the rich history, beauty, and ingenuity of Japanese textile traditions. Curated by Pip Steel, the private collector behind this extraordinary body of work, the exhibition features a collection of hand-stitched and layered textiles originally crafted by rural Japanese communities as a means of preserving garments through generations.

“Boro” means “rags” or “tattered cloth” in Japanese, yet these works speak deeply to themes of resilience, sustainability, and creativity in the face of hardship. With their rich textures, patchwork forms, and subtle colour palettes, the textiles cross boundaries between historical artifact and contemporary art.

Gallery hours are 10am to 3pm Weekdays (Tuesday to Friday)
- closed Mondays
11am to 3pm Weekends.
Special hours for group visits can be arranged by emailing director@morrinsvillegallery.org.nz

Thank you to The Matamata Piako District Council Pride of Place fund that critically and generously supported the costs around the install and first 4 weeks of the show. Without this assistance we may not have been able to host this important show.

Cow Art Festival 2025: Continues at the back of the Arts House Trust space.
Come and see beautiful the New Arts House Trust show - Works on Paper and while you are there catch up on the progress of our Cow-laboration.

Thanks to our incredible community, the first stage of the Cow Art Festival 2025 was a joyful celebration of creativity, culture, and connection in the heart of the Mighty Waikato.

🌟Your generosity empowers us to continue fostering a vibrant, inclusive, and welcoming farming district—where art, culture, and tourism flourish side by side.

🌟 Join the Morrinsville Gallery family and help shape the future of our region through creativity, collaboration, and community spirit.

Over sixteen talented local artists have been painting our beloved cow live, guided by curator Elizabeth Borrows and supported by our dedicated Fundraising Committee. This vibrant journey will culminate in the grand unveiling of our newly renovated cow—currently known as "Mooloo"—this October.

"Mooloo" will debut a stunning new design and a brand-new name, continuing her proud legacy as part of one of New Zealand’s most dynamic street art projects: the Morrinsville Herd of Cows.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Colin and Sharyn Fabish from Professionals Real Estate Morrinsville for generously transferring ownership of "Mooloo" to the gallery.

We also celebrate the champions of well-being and connection across the Waikato. Our deepest gratitude goes to the Seales Family Trust, Saz Kebab, Bayleys Real Estate, House of Travel, Resene, Health and Safety Connexions, Power Farming for their generous support of the Cow Art Festival 2025.

💛 A special note of appreciation to all the artists, volunteers, and financial supporters who have made this festival possible. Your passion and commitment continue to inspire.

📞 Yes, you can still join us!
Contact Gina Barreto: 027 889 7791
📧 director@morrinsvillegallery.org.nz

Together, we’re shaping a vibrant future—one brushstroke at a time.

Thank you for your unwavering support over the past 15 years. Your generosity has made all the difference—and together, we’re shaping a brighter, more creative future for the Mighty Waikato.

Picture Credits
Huge thanks to artists Elisa Hyde-Hills, Alicia Weir, Summer Okey, Bernadette Ballantyne, Stevie Fiske, Liz Borrows, Las Flamencas performers Laura García de Mora and Pepa Torre, volunteer Jeanette Crook, Saz from Saz Kebab, Your Way Kia Roha team, Brenda Johnson, Liz Borrows and Cathy Balvert for their amazing support and vibrant contributions!