Kia Kaha

Dale Copeland
‘Kia Kaha’
Assemblages of found objects: Carved black stone, old doll's head.
210 x 360 x 150mm

“Those with good visual memories might recognise this one, from 2021. I was never happy with the bright lettering I had, reading 'RESILIENCE'. The thought was there, but it didn't look right. So now it reads KIA KAHA. That's Maori, te reo for 'Stay Strong.’ I'm happier with it now.”

Dale Copeland describes herself as a mathematician-turned-artist. The one time head of a college maths and physics department and freelance computer programmer, Copeland, at the age of forty-three opted for a new lifestyle devoted to art and motherhood. She is now a 6th Dan black belt in Taekwon-Do and is still training regularly. Dale has often been referred to as the back bone of the Taranaki arts community, she is currently the driving force behind the artist collective called Virtual TART which shows their work online through the Virtual TART site www.tart.co.nz. In 2012 Dale was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the arts. Dale lives at Puniho with painter Paul Hutchinson.