Taking some Pacific Love to the USA

Our project is all about sharing our Polynesian culture and our inter-generational tapa art practice with America. 

 We are booked in April to host tapa cloth workshops at the California State University in Los Angeles and at the Pacific Island Ethnic Art Museum in Long Beach. We are New Zealand-based Tongan artists and my mother Sulieti Fieme'a Burrows, my daughter Aroha Heilala Gillies and myself are set to provide the opening workshop for the Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Island Heritage Month 2025 at the University. 

 We also look forward to connecting with the Pacific diaspora in Long Beach and sharing with them our traditional techniques and heritage art, while also offering a unique Tongan tapa cloth experience for members of other ethnic communities and the wider American public. 

I am Tui Emma Gillies and my mother is Sulieti Fieme'a Burrows MNZM. We are Tongan New Zealand artists who preserve our family’s ancestral DNA through the sacred ritual of tapa making. Our work mixes contemporary with traditional and can be challenging and controversial, but always with respect to the ancestral roots of the medium. In 2018 my mother and I received the Creative New Zealand Pacific Heritage Art Award. Our works can be found in museum and gallery collections around the globe, including America, Germany, Tahiti, Melbourne, China, and in many private collections. We are also passionate about our roots and played a vital role in reviving tapa art in our home village of Falevai, Vava'u where it had vanished decades earlier. Our journey is about honouring the past while forging a path for future generations.

I’m also proud to introduce my artistic daughter, Aroha Heilala Gillies, who is just 11 years old. She has a natural curiosity and passion for the arts, often watching, learning, and collaborating with us on tapa cloth. Her enthusiasm for painting and creating is a beautiful reminder of the importance of passing down our traditions to the next generation.

Due to recent funding cuts in America, California State University, Los Angeles is only able to assist with funding equivalent to our airfare. We still require financial support to cover essential expenses, including workshop supplies, luggage fees, accommodation, transportation, insurance, and other miscellaneous costs associated with our trip. Your contribution towards these expenses will be crucial in ensuring a smooth journey and the successful delivery of our workshops. 

Thank you for helping us make this vital cultural exchange a reality.

Bringing Tongan heritage art workshops to California is vital for several reasons: 

1. Cultural Preservation: These workshops help maintain Tongan cultural identity by passing traditional crafts to younger generations, especially in Tongan diaspora communities. 

2. Cultural Exchange: They promote understanding and appreciation of Pacific Island cultures, fostering dialogue and reducing stereotypes in California's diverse environment. 

3. Educational Opportunities: These workshops can enhance the curriculum in California’s educational institutions, offering deeper insights into Pacific art traditions for both Tongan and non-Tongan students. 

4. Community Connections: Workshops strengthen the Tongan community, providing a space for cultural expression and connection among individuals interested in their heritage. 

5. Economic Support for Artists: They provide artists with recognition and economic opportunities, allowing them to sell their work and sustain traditional art forms. 

6. Artistic Innovation: Exposure to new ideas can inspire contemporary interpretations of Tongan art, encouraging young artists to blend heritage with modern techniques. In essence, these workshops are crucial for preserving Tongan culture, fostering understanding, and creating community and artistic opportunities.

We see every opportunity to showcase Pasifika work on the international stage as a huge benefit for Aotearoa. We love to share the Polynesian art message and to educate people about our culture.  We're using 100 year old kupesi and designs that have been used in Tonga for centuries. So we are blending the heritage arts with the contemporary. The sight of three wahine from three generations collaborating is not just inspiring; it's a powerful representation of our familial legacy. 

 We believe that California, and indeed the wider world, can gain valuable insights from the stories and artistry we are eager to share.