Michele Leggott and Catherine Field-Dodgson

Nine years of research and writing culminated last week in the cafe turned launch space at Te Papa in Wellington. More than 120 guests gathered to bring Groundwork: The Art and Writing of Emily Cumming Harris into the light of day.

Just prior to the main event, Harris descendants and Team Emily were invited to an adjacent room to meet each other in person, some for the first time, and to view a selection of the museum’s Emily Harris letters, books and artwork. Curators were on hand to show us the precious items, which were then whisked off to the launch space where beautiful arrangements of flora decorated walls and tables. A big stack of books waited prominently near the bar.

Glasses clinked, conversation roared, people warmed to the excitement of the occasion. It isn’t every day that a book the size and scale of Groundwork makes its appearance in the world.

Publisher Nicola Legat opened proceedings and introduced Rebecca Rice, acting head of art at Te Papa, who launched Groundwork with a bracing tour of the book’s main points. We’ve asked Rebecca for the text of her speech to post here soon.

Then we took turns to thank the many people and institutions who have helped us research the book. There were shout outs to the Harris descendants and the seven postgraduate students who comprised Team Emily in its initial stages. There were shout outs to family and friends, curators and collection managers, and to the guests in the room who had travelled from Australia, Canada and all parts of the country.

The team at Te Papa Press was warmly thanked and Michele made a special mention of the scientists and clinicians at the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research for the life-saving CAR T-cell therapy that enabled her to complete the writing of Groundwork with Catherine.

Catherine acknowledged the special place where we had gathered, and observed that her Tūranga ancestors in the meeting house Te Hau ki Tūranga were listening to the evening’s celebrations, as they were just around the corner.

We brought Emily’s voice into the room with four readings from the book, two by Harris descendants Sue Needham and Russell Briant, and two by us. Then Rebecca and a group from Te Papa led the singing of Purea nei, Hirini Melbourne’s famous waiata, and Nicola closed the formalities by inviting guests to have their books signed.

It was a night to remember for the joy that was palpable in the room, hitting the high spots as voices joined in song and poetry to celebrate the resurrection of Emily Harris, artist and writer, a woman with a spine of steel.

Welcome back, Emily; we salute your return to the world of light.