Iris Steensma - printmaker: Midshipman Comber

27.5 cm x 14 cm Linocut - multi-block

Heard Mr Williams preach I wanted to use Waimate church as a reference for this one, its ceiling beams make a great pattern, but then I found out that in 1840 the church in Paihia was more like a small hall with paned windows. I remembered that when I made bobbin lace some women would edge large hankies and turn them into 'church dollies', two corners are knotted to make arms and the head is tied around a bit of stuffing. These dolls could be played with quietly in church and not disturb the service. So I decided to include one of them in this lino-cut. I used a picture of an old Bible found on the internet as reference for the one seen here, hence the spelling of the saint's name. I choose St Matthew because it has the line "The voice of one crying in the wilderness" which is how I imagine those early missionaries in New Zealand must have felt. The lines from the letters are - "Went to church and heard Mr Williams preach, there were not more than 24 persons in attendance. Many of the natives were at the Bishop's Chapel." The bishop was the Roman Catholic Bishop Pompallier across the bay in Russell.

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