Creative Travel in Kiwi Country: Bone Carving Workshop in Nelson

“Hi Elena! Great to hear you’re back in New Zealand and of course you’re welcome to join my workshop!” – Words like these are music to my ears, taking me straight to my next creative travel experience here in New Zealand! Stephan Gilberg, also known as “The Bone Carver” in the city of Nelson in the north of New Zealand’s South Island, originally hails from Germany and has been living amongst the Kiwis for more than 20 years now. It is almost as long that he has been teaching travellers such as myself the art of bone carving. And it really is an art, deriving from an ancient tradition of the Maori people, New Zealand’s indigenous tribes who first used whale bones for their own carvings. “The bones that you can see here today are cow bones. I get them once a year from the butcher here. My job is to then clean them thoroughly, using only natural treatments and allowing them to dry off completely over several weeks & months … I just love working with ‘warm materials’ such as bone or wood, having originally started building guitars and becoming inspired by the Maori people to carry on with bone carving here in New Zealand”, Stephan tells us his own personal story during the four-hour workshop here in Nelson.

“Nice and slow … You have to feel it, become one with it … Easy, that’s it! And if you are stuck or not sure, just call me: I am always here to help you out!”

What I really love and appreciate about Stephan’s workshop, is his constant inspiration & happiness in teaching his passion of working with bones and the creativity that lies inherent in this art form. Indeed, each piece is so unique! Although we can always rely on the inspiration of the existing drawings & carvings in front of us, it becomes clear that each one of our maximum number of six course participants has brought their very own, individual ideas with them.

Off we go during our creative bone carving workshop with Stephan in Nelson! Inspired by what we see …

… we soon start by a first couple of drafts of our own, individual design …

Just as on my first visit here all those years ago, I am again fascinated by the shape & meaning of the “Pikorua”, a Maori symbol representing friendship, love, support & energy!

After we have finished sketching our design on a piece of hand-picked bone, the “hard work” starts: Cutting it out using a kind of small see-saw!

Checking out Stephan’s bone collection tells me that carving bone is second nature to him – indeed, no wonder that his workshop is ranked “Top Thing To To Do in Nelson” – good on ya, Stephan! …

… and most deservedly so, as Stephan really is all hands and ears whenever we need any explanation or help on our way.

This is me. 100% Creativelena! Floating between the nostalgia of my first ever bone carving workshop with Stephan all these years ago while living & working in New Zealand, as well as embracing the happiness of being on this current #CreativElenaRTW round the world trip is pure magic … It just all makes sense. I am creating my very own, personal, hand-crafted souvenir. I learn in a more in-depth way about the culture & tradition of the Maori people. I enjoy the creative atmosphere of giving birth to something new together with other, equally passionate people … the sparkling in all our eyes as we watch our carvings grow and develop, full of love and pride – it truly is, a most wonderful feeling.

Creative travel, it really is, a journey of self-discovery. Whatever chooses to express itself creatively through your work, it will always reflect your inner state of being and emotions – connected to the traditions and the culture of the place you are visiting. Like so, unique creations & connections are born.

Dear Stephan is a good example of this, having started building guitars and now “building bridges” thanks to living his passion.

We all work away happily under his expert guidance …

… all of us except …

… this young lady here who prefers instead resting on my tummy. After all, a creative break is always needed right. 😉

And Stephan is always there for us, too, especially when it comes to the trickier parts such as drilling a hole or using new tools to create effecs.

Thank God in any case for the use of modern electric machines! Back in the days …

… according to Stephan, Maori people used whatever tools were available to them, such as this hard rock cut into blades for carving, or pumice as a natural sandpaper for smoothing out the edges. “Everything just took much longer way back then”, he tells us. “Much much longer!”

Today, however, we are almost finished after only a few hours, all of us choosing to incorporate a beautiful piece of “Paua” shell carving into our bone!

“Each workshop is different. It really depends on the participants! I love to work with each one individually and help them to create their very own, unique pieces of bone carving. The feeling of pride towards the end, it has always made everyone happy”, Stephan muses. I could not agree more. Working away for a good four hours, I did hardly notice the time go by what with our increasingly fascinating, beautifully polished works of art.

Words such as “WOW … I like it. I love this!!” grow more & more frequent. And the smiles on our faces … they just wouldn’t go away!

Psychologists call it “flow“, this very unique state of mind where we find ourselves evenly challenged, floating in perfect harmony between creative thinking and physical ability to reach our goals. A sweet spot for happiness, I call it. And will never grow tired of recommending creative travel as one means to this end, such as this unique experience here in New Zealand!

“Your piece is called ‘Pikorua’, Elena. By wearing it, you charge it with ‘Mana’ – strength, power, and spiritual belief according to the Maori people. In the end, you will give it to a very special person …

… your grandchildren! Your partner? Your best friend! Simply someone truly special … Because each person that wears it will charge it with their own, individual energy, making the carving richer and richer over time. When it finally comes back to you, it is worth a whole lot more than you could ever imagine – such is the spiritual willpower of traditional Maori belief …!”

What a beautiful, strong point of view !!!

Shortly before finishing, our excitement – and pride starts to grow …

… as every piece is a unique combination of traditional Maori culture, enriched by our own sense of creativity!

I daresay I am a little proud of having transformed the original piece of bone into THIS piece of art in just over four hours …!

THANK YOU SO MUCH, DEAR STEPHAN !!! Spending this day with you has really meant a lot to me.!

And to all of us, I believe! From left to right: Creative (and happy) bone carving workshop participants Selina & Theresa from Germany, myself as well as the cool twin brothers Jack & William from Boulder, Colorado! Well done everyone!

Learn more about the fascination of creative travel and my current creative round the world trip here: #CreativElenaRTW! 😀