Elke Radewald

The hand weaves, the mouth talks is a saying that is so true. Getting together with others is always a joy.

Elke loves the aspect of weaving with natural fibres and bringing wellbeing into people's life. She incorporates this vision in her work as a now part-time psychologist. She is a life-styler who came to NZ in 1999.

Elke's weaving is influenced by Maori traditions and lots of her learning happened in Hokianga Harbour with Te Pa Aroha weavers and associates. Later Elke completed her training in Maori Arts with Vereanoa Hetet. Wendy Naepflin from All Flax has also greatly inspired Elke's work. Together there were lots of adventures such as attending biannual National Weaving Hui and regular wangana in Whangarei.
Often Elke comes home with cuttings of flax from the National Collection. She is now a proud owner of her own Pa Harakeke and can harvest from different flax varieties for special pieces.

There is a passion about weaving and experimenting with flax and other fibres, in trialing colour schemes and creating quirky shapes and unusual wallhangings. Lately Elke became fascinated to explore worldwide traditions of weaving with having had the opportunity to go to Niue or to weave with weavers visiting NZ from Chile.

Over the years Elke had the pleasure to co-exhibit at the Mangawhai Art trainl in 2025, at Mangawhai Art Gallery, at the Quarry in Whangarei, in Waiheke Art Gallery and in Kohukohu.

For anybody interested please contact her. Elke does commissions although most of her work is sold in the Black Shed Gallery and the Red Door Gallery in Waipu.