In 1958 Colin McCahon painted The Wake, a multi panel narrative frieze illuminating a poem by John Casleberg, while living in his former home in Titirangi, now known as the McCahon House Museum.

The Wake comprises 16 canvases, five of which feature Kauri 'rickers', young trees, we presume were inspired by the trees he lived with on this site. Fifty-eight years later in 2016, Aotearoa artist Sarah Smuts Kennedy began her residency at Parehuia, adjacent to the McCahon House Museum and nestled in amongst the same Kauri that Colin had drawn so much from. By the time of Sarah’s residency, the trees were suffering from Kauri dieback.

Awake, is Sarah’s response to her time in residency at Parehuia. Like The Wake, Awake will comprise 16 parts. The first 4 panels O.N.E, Two, Three and Four, emerged in 2024-2025. Over the next 18 months the other 12 panels will emerge as part of an activation titled The Parts and Wholes are O.N.E.

Now, at the cusp of the tenth anniversary of Sarah’s time in residence, we invite you to join us as we gather in the McCahon House Museum to reflect on tree time, phases of learning and being receptive to the messages and lessons around us. 

In Tree Time
Saturday 9 August, 10:30 am -12 pm, McCahon House Museum, 67 Otitori Bay Road, Titirangi 
Spaces for this event are limited - please RSVP to simran@mccahonhouse.org.nz by Monday 4 August