Te Ara Whānui a Tāne

      Gabrielle Belz was born in Papakura and trained as a commercial artist, beginning in the art department at Heraldry Studios in 1965. She is now an established full-time painter and printmaker, an integral member of many Māori art collectives, and a trusted community leader.'Sighs off the Awa' emulates a sense of emotion; an eerie atmospheric quality lingers at the essence of this work. Gabrielle uses aluminum leaf to create a contrasting composition layered onto a timeless backdrop of different hues of blue fading into one another.

"In the dark of early morning, the mist clings low to the awa, then, as day dawns and the air is warmed, slowly the vapour begins to rise, like the breath of Papatūānuku reaching to Ranginui."