Norman ClarkMaori and Pacific Island Bone Carving Born in New Zealand in 1942 my creative parents encouraged me to have an appreciation of things cultural and the visual arts. Museum visits filled many leisure hours. After a college education in Wanganui and Tauranga areas, both rich in Maori history, I trained as an aeronautical engineer. Spare time was spent reading and visiting Maraes and carved houses. I further studied under a cabinet maker and designer on leaving my engineering career. A deep feeling for wood and its beauty led me to decide on this creative field, and it has remained to the present day. I have travelled extensively in Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Europe, USA and Hawai furthering my cultural interests, finally settling in the Marlborough Sounds overlooking the water where I am continually inspired with new ideas for my work. My studio and home are built in native bush with beautiful views of mountains and the waters of the Pelorus Sound. This environmental base guides my mental thoughts, changing feelings. Giving me restful inspiration and the balance needed for a sometimes very demanding profile of working to exhibition deadlines, guest speaker and tutoring timetables. Giving me the dedicated concentration needed to design and execute the fine work I enjoy doing most. | 
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My materials of native wood, bone and jade allows a freedom of expression only limited by dimensional function. Whale bone and teeth with their own beauty become a challenge in its difficulty of execution, add a further dimension in design exploration of fitting aesthetic design to a given natural form.
New Zealands very hard nephrite jade has been my last material exploration. Its definitive beauty and material longevity give me a sense of creating something that will last forever. My inspiration seems injected with yet more development in design concepts. The process of just shaping and finishing it to my own demanding standards is a challenge indeed. Design concepts leap from one material to the other, yet these materials all function together.
I wonder where will it end! My short life span will not be enough to complete or fully develop this ethnic potential, but surely a worthy contribution will be made to New Zealand history.
