Groundwork: The art and writing of Emily Cumming Harris continues to travel around Aotearoa and to international shores. Here are some of its readers and the places it has ventured:
Team Emily member Susannah Lyon-Whaley with her copy of Groundwork in the New Zealand corner of the Chelsea Physic Garden in London, surrounded by hebe and Marlborough rock daisies.Michele standing in front of the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne. Emily’s paintings were exhibited here in the Melbourne International Exhibition 1880-81, and she travelled to see her 28 paintings on display in the New Zealand Court.Barbara Tomlin and Terry Hood travelled from Canada in April to be present at the launch of Groundwork at Te Papa in Wellington. Here’s Barb holding their copy of Groundwork against a background of fall colours in North Vancouver.Jenny Penberthy with Groundwork at Michele and Mark’s West 15th Avenue base in Vancouver where it all began. Groundwork at Ground Zero!Dogs learn about Emily Harris on the back deck at Domain Street in Devonport as copies of Groundwork arrive home.Waiheke poet Sue Fitchett in her bush section on the island. Waiheke Library hosted Michele and Mark for a talk about Groundwork in June.Groundwork visits Lake Mangamahoe in New Plymouth, with a snow-capped Taranaki Mounga in the background. The Harris family arrived in New Plymouth in 1841 and lived under the mounga for 19 years before moving to Whakatū Nelson.Many of Emily’s paintings are in the collection of Puke Ariki Museum, as well as letters, diaries, poems and other items belonging to the Harris family.Emily’s Mother Sarah Harris features in an exhibition at Puke Ariki. Here is a quote of Sarah’s reproduced on the wall, and her portrait as it appears in Groundwork.Emily’s large 1906 oil panel Flowers from the Antarctic Islands of New Zealand at Puke Ariki, and in Groundwork.A Spanish guitar that belonged to Emily’s father Edwin Harris is permanently on display at Puke Ariki. It is reproduced on page 361 of our book.Groundwork at the Wellington Botanic Gardens, footstepping Emily and her 1890 visit, when botanist Thomas Kirk (1828 – 1898) showed her around the gardens.The National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, which also houses the Alexander Turnbull Library. The collection of watercolours at the Alexander Turnbull Library is the largest repository of Emily’s work in Aotearoa: 63 artworks in total.Catherine and Groundwork at the Nelson Provincial Museum. The museum has a collection of Emily and Edwin’s artworks, including Emily’s bird sketches for the unpublished book ‘Pelorus Jack’.The Suter Art Gallery Te Aratoi o Whakatū has two large watercolours of Emily’s in its collection, as well as a sketch which we believe is Emily’s last dated work, painted in 1920 when she was 83.Emily painted the double-tailed comet Viscara in 1901 and while we were in Nelson we found the exact location she sat to observe and record it – up on the hill in Wakapuaka Cemetery.Meri Kirihimete! Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas!
5 thoughts on “A Book in the Hand”
What a beautiful end to an eventful year. Thank you for all the postings and most of all for this beautiful taonga.
What a visual feast, so enjoyed the photos and the choices of locations. A lovely overview of what must have been a very memorable year for you both. Meri Kirihimete
Michele and Catherine are to be congratulated for this wonderful repository on the many places ‘Groundwork’ has travelled in recognition of Emily’s travels and her botanical art since the book was published earlier this year. May it continue.
Greetings from Canada! What a memorable photographic tribute to the many places that hold some significance for Groundwork and its stories. We were delighted to have contributed a northern hemisphere image for this feature. Hope to see additional on-site images related to this fine piece of work in 2026.
More greetings from Vancouver, Canada along with the photo of Groundwork in front of Michele and Mark’s long ago abode (top floor flat) on 15th Avenue where the botanical Michele took root with her work on Louis Zukofsky’s 80 Flowers. How wonderful to have Groundwork in hand — another flowering!
What a beautiful end to an eventful year. Thank you for all the postings and most of all for this beautiful taonga.
What a visual feast, so enjoyed the photos and the choices of locations. A lovely overview of what must have been a very memorable year for you both. Meri Kirihimete
Michele and Catherine are to be congratulated for this wonderful repository on the many places ‘Groundwork’ has travelled in recognition of Emily’s travels and her botanical art since the book was published earlier this year. May it continue.
Greetings from Canada! What a memorable photographic tribute to the many places that hold some significance for Groundwork and its stories. We were delighted to have contributed a northern hemisphere image for this feature. Hope to see additional on-site images related to this fine piece of work in 2026.
More greetings from Vancouver, Canada along with the photo of Groundwork in front of Michele and Mark’s long ago abode (top floor flat) on 15th Avenue where the botanical Michele took root with her work on Louis Zukofsky’s 80 Flowers. How wonderful to have Groundwork in hand — another flowering!