Both agreed, but time passed and Ku found herself without inspiration until one night when she dreamed of a quilt depicting the Maori creation myth. 

Although she had used many media in her art up to this time, Ku had never before made a quilt, which makes the dream all the more surprising.  However, over the next month, Ku became consumed with her task and created a quilt based on her dream.  The result was "Te Putake o te Ao", a magnificent depiction of the point of separation of Sky Father and Earth Mother as told in Maori mythology.

The work was a magnificent piece of art and Ku subsequently submitted it for entry in the "Millennium Quilt Contest - A Quilt for the Year 2000" held in Houston, TX, in November 2000.  The quilt was accepted by the jury for inclusion in the festival under the "Dreams of Yesterday" category and went on to become a finalist in the competition.  Although her quilt depicting the Maori creation myth did not win the grand prize, it toured with the rest of the finalist quilts after the festival closed to New Jersey, Barcelona, and Kobe. The quilt is now held by a private collector. I encourage you to view the quilt and read the creation myth story online here at Ariki Art.

Since the success with her first quilt, Ku has created several more magnificent pieces of quilt art.  Several tell other the traditional New Zealand Maori myths and legends, and several have won awards in various quilt competitions in New Zealand.

Do not weep
They took my bones but not my soul
Did you not sense my return as I glided by on silent wing.
I only rested awhile to thirst on shared tears which fueled me for the journey to that place beyond.
I did return.

Ariki Art is pleased to announce that we have recently published an online gallery of Ku Bailey's art quilts.  Several are available for sale, and some of the myth quilts come with companion fabric books crafted by Ku and with the Maori legend stitched into the cloth of the books.  These are included in the price; a magnificent complement to the quilt so that you and your friends can enjoy the story behind the quilt.

Ku Bailey exhibited some of her quilt artworks at the Quilt Auckland Symposium 2005 in January this year, and will be exhibiting again later this year in Auckland, New Zealand.

If you have any interest in finding out more about these magnificent works of art, please contact us at: service @ arikiart . com