The sheep is one of the most instantly recognisable emblems of our nation. On the Sheep's Back celebrates the familiar by cleverly weaving and connecting the lives of New Zealanders to the woollen industry, in an often witty and surprising manner. The theme of a wool shed, with its wooden walls and floors, photomurals of shearers at work, old wool press and record-breaking shearing pieces, provides a nostalgic setting for 'Shear Hard Work'. It is here that the stories of the shearing gangs are told. Within 'Grassy Empires' we discover when the first sheep arrive and how from 1861 to 1995, sheep numbers increase from 2.7 million to nearly 49 million, and the area of sown grass increases more than one hundredfold.
Home is where the Art is'.
Versatile woollen manufactured garments connect Kiwi farmers with fashion models and castaways - who, if they were lucky, may have come across pristine woollen suits placed on Stewart Island in case of shipwreck. Swanndris used to bury dogs or to save lives, stunningly elegant 1950s fashion modelled by Mary-Annette Hay, and Godfrey Bowen shearing displays will contrast with recent high fashion from New Zealand young designers in 'Woollen Yarns'. Factory images, processes, and memories of workers show us how garments were made, and changes in world trends remind us that new and original uses for wool are essential when the market for wool declines. New Zealand icons in this exhibition include the magnificent English and French antique furniture collection, known as the 'Elgar Collection', and the tall tales of the 'Old Swanni ', our favourite Swanndri jacket. On the Sheep's Back is a warm reminder of the impact the woollen industry has had on our lives.