Ans Westra
Encyclopedia
Ans Westra, CNZM
(b. April 28, 1936 in Leiden, Netherlands
) is a self-taught New Zealand
photographer, with an interest in Māori, whose prominence as an artist and author was most amplified by her 1964 piece Washday at the pa
.
Westra emigrated to New Zealand in 1957.
In 1996 Ans Westra was awarded the inaugural Southland Art Foundation Artist in Residence award by Southland Art Foundation
, Southern Institute of Technology
, Southland Museum and Art Gallery
and Creative New Zealand
.
In 1998 Westra was awarded the Companion of the Order of New Zealand
Merit for services to photography and in 2007 she became an Arts Foundation of New Zealand
Icon artist.
Westra was the subject of the 2006 documentary Ans Westra: Private Journeys/Public Thoughts by Luit Bieringa
.
Westra’s most recent major book and exhibition, The Crescent Moon: The Asian Face of Islam in New Zealand (Wellington: Asia New Zealand Foundation, 2009. ISBN 9780958296403), features her own photographs, with text by New Zealand writer Adrienne Jansen. The book's interviews and photographs of thirty-seven individuals give insight into the lives of Asian Muslims in New Zealand.
New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
(b. April 28, 1936 in Leiden, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
) is a self-taught New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
photographer, with an interest in Māori, whose prominence as an artist and author was most amplified by her 1964 piece Washday at the pa
Washday at the pa
Washday at the pa is a 1964 illustrated children's book by Ans Westra that describes a day in the lives of a rural Māori family.The book was originally published by the then School Publications Branch of the Department of Education, and printed by the Government Printer, but all 38,000 copies were...
.
Westra emigrated to New Zealand in 1957.
In 1996 Ans Westra was awarded the inaugural Southland Art Foundation Artist in Residence award by Southland Art Foundation
Southland Art Foundation
The Southland Art Foundation, established in 1995, is a Southland, New Zealand art foundation that provides funding for a variety of art programs and scholarships for New Zealand artists...
, Southern Institute of Technology
Southern Institute of Technology
The Southern Institute of Technology is the most well recognised Tertiary Education Institution of the province of Southland, New Zealand....
, Southland Museum and Art Gallery
Southland museum and art gallery
The Southland Museum and Art Gallery is located in Gala Street, Invercargill, New Zealand. It is Southland's largest cultural and heritage institution, and contains a wide variety of the region's art, history and natural history collections.-Observatory:...
and Creative New Zealand
Creative New Zealand
The Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa is the national arts development agency of the New Zealand government, investing in artists and arts organisations, offering capability building programmes and developing markets and audiences for New Zealand arts domestically and internationally...
.
In 1998 Westra was awarded the Companion of the Order of New Zealand
Order of New Zealand
The Order of New Zealand is the highest honour in New Zealand's honours system, created "to recognise outstanding service to the Crown and people of New Zealand in a civil or military capacity"...
Merit for services to photography and in 2007 she became an Arts Foundation of New Zealand
Arts Foundation of New Zealand
A facilitator of private philanthropy, the Arts Foundation of New Zealand supports artistic excellence through its permanent Endowment Fund. Legacies and donations help grow the Fund, with income generated enabling the Foundation to support the arts....
Icon artist.
Westra was the subject of the 2006 documentary Ans Westra: Private Journeys/Public Thoughts by Luit Bieringa
Luit Bieringa
Luit Bieringa is a New Zealand art historian and museum consultant.Bieringa held the position of Director at the Manawatu Art gallery from 1971 until 1979, when he was appointed as Director of the National Art Gallery of New Zealand. He held this position until 1989...
.
Westra’s most recent major book and exhibition, The Crescent Moon: The Asian Face of Islam in New Zealand (Wellington: Asia New Zealand Foundation, 2009. ISBN 9780958296403), features her own photographs, with text by New Zealand writer Adrienne Jansen. The book's interviews and photographs of thirty-seven individuals give insight into the lives of Asian Muslims in New Zealand.