About

John Freeman Sculptor OF Wood / Carver of Stone

John Freeman is a self-taught master sculptor and stone carver. An artist of incredible humbleness, unbeknown to most, he is arguably the most experienced artist working with ancient Kauri, in the world.

Freeman has a worldview that encompasses kindness and the celebration of creative spirit and community. He cares about other artists and values the interconnectedness between all of us and especially with nature. Through embracing the beauty of being a small part of an infinitely larger universe and the mighty trees that were here, long before us, he transforms the ancient Kauri into another carnation, a symbol of rebirth and resilience.

Born in Napier, Hawkes Bay, in his late teens Freeman travelled to Wellington to further a career as a display artist. After 2 yrs of working in a large retail store he then went into a landscaping business with his father laying concrete and building stone walls. In 1972 Freeman started up his own landscaping business. By 1973 took in a partner and began building houses. By his 25th birthday also had a takeaway food outlet. It seemed as if all there was, was work so after working 7 days a week for 6 yrs decided to opt out for a new lifestyle.

The birth of Freeman’s daughter in 1976 changed his whole outlook on life. At this stage he was building his first house of 350 sq meters. From here he decided to sell everything and move on to new life experiences. So Freeman and his young family purchased an 8 meter caravan, an old furniture removal truck, and a wood turning lathe and hit the road for adventure on the open road. During the late 1970s, they led a nomadic existence, going where the work took them.

In 1980 Freeman purchased a 6 acre property between Warkworth and Wellsford in order to set up an art gallery to sell his wares to the travelling public. The “ Glendarra Galleries” was a huge success and operated for a decade and it was here that he got involved with working with “Ancient Kauri”.

In 1990 a move to Auckland city, a marked change from living in the country, Freeman then got into the house renovating business first in Ponsonby and then in Parnell. Also at the same time setting up a workshop and studio at the then China Oriental Markets in downtown Auckland. Unique wood production was developed making wood-turned art work and natural edged furniture from the swamp kauri. The market was a vibrant change from the quietness of the country. Here he was able to bring some of the country life to the city by having a kune kune pig on site called Arnie. Arnie became much loved and was always invited to the market parties and often would take him across the road to the Kiwi Tavern for a beer. Many stories were to be had about Arnie and adventures in downtown city. Large sculptural pieces were then exported to London and a container load of tea and coffee tables to Taiwan.

Eventually the Markets closed down and so Freeman purchased a 5500 sq ft warehouse in Mt Wellington and moved what was now a substantial qauntity of kauri with him. The inside of the warehouse was set up like a tropical jungle with water features and 5 meter tall banana trees all set in between the grey concrete block walls. People would be totally blown away as they walked into the factory setting to find a lush paradise in the concrete jungle. There freeman started to work on huge couches made from the root systems of the kauri he had salvaged while at the markets.

In 2002 something was lacking, friends started telling him that he would fit in well with the environment of Waiheke Island. Before long another move was in order as Freeman purchased 2200 sq mtrs of land with a small cottage on it. Its here that after many truckloads of kauri became the site of Kauriart.

“As you can see, I have never been in one place any more than 10 yrs but I have been here for 20 yrs now and fell in love with the island and its people. Here I have my studio and workshop where travellers and tourist can come to the studio buying art pieces as a treasure from New Zealand.

Something which is so part of the country and its history. The wood itself tells a story of its life of some 30,000 yrs ago. Kauri has an outstanding beauty which has chatoyant grain patterns and colour like no other material. It fulfils a desire to work with a life force that lived and breathed, and had a whole ecological system surrounding it.”

Back when Freeman was at school he wanted to be a palaeontologist, “the study of fossils” he also excelled in art.

“So the two passions have combined to create pieces which are timeless and beautiful. This is why I have come to this place and this is where I want to do it.”

Freeman invites you to this place, to appreciate, to learn and if you love it enough, to buy and take home a piece of natural history.

Finally settled in his permanent home on Waiheke Island in 2002 where he has become an important and intrinsic part of the vibrant arts community here. Visiting Freeman’s studio is like stepping into a different world, a world of discovering ‘a realm of fallen giants’ as he refers to the ancient Kauri he works with.

Ancient Kauri {Agathis australis} is a taonga (treasure). It is the oldest workable timber on the earth. The giant trees were perfectly preserved under peat moss during the last ice age (tens of thousands of years). Freeman is a kaitiaki (guardian) of this taonga, he has built up a reserve of the wood over the past 40 years, saving much of it from rot or worse being used for firewood.

Freeman knows he is incredibly fortunate to be able to work with such a precious gift from nature and is respectful of this resource, protecting the wood, revealing the grain and giving it new life.

We can learn so much from ancient Kauri, the wood holds history and Freeman harnesses the inner energy of these mighty trees when he carves them into a new form, retaining the heart of the wood.

Celebrating the beauty of these natural beings and drawing out their innate character to create beautiful pieces, ranging from small sculptures to huge iconic pieces, they will bring joy to the owner and generations to come.