Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Ceremonial Cloth



Tapa Ceremonial Matting, from Tonga, in place this Easter. Pacific Islander Communities have introduced aspects of their culture into Newcastle. Song is a strong point.
Tapa is from the islands of the Pacific from both Polynesia and Melanesia. Bark of the Paper Mulberry tree, nowdays, is pounded flat and glued into large sheets and decorated with traditional dyes.
Earlier tapa was used as clothing and can be worn now on formal occasions and is prized for its decorative value.

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