Kawakawa Stone
Kawakawa Stone is owned by Nick Balme and Madelyne Gourdin
Growing up in New Zealand, Nick was drawn to carving as a counterbalance to life in the modern world. He fell in love with the process as it makes him feel a stronger connection to his homeland, Aotearoa.
First carving materials such as bone, antler and wood by hand, Nick would spend a lot of time in nature contemplating the forms and their future possibilities, slowly moving the material by hand with sharp tools.
Moving then to Greymouth, the Heart of Pounamu (Jade) country, Nick attended Tai Poutini Polytechnic to learn how to carve stone. Graduating with a Diploma in Hard-stone Carving and passing with Merit, he also received the Mountain Jade Excellence Award for a Jade Chandelier he created.
In 2016, Nick became a member of Nautilus Creative Space where Kawakawa Stone workshop was located. The same year he competed in the NZ Jade Artists Society and received a Silver Medal in the Contemporary Category and was awarded the Emerging Artist Award for New Upcoming Artist for his piece 'Chinese Landscape'.
In 2017, Nick received a Silver Medal for his piece 'Growth' at the International Jade exhibition Zei Gang Bei in Suzhou, China.
In 2019, Nick received an award for 'Creativity and Innovation' for his articulated piece 'Thopter' again at Zei Gang Bei in Suzhou, China.
Heavily influenced by the natural environment, plants and landscapes, carving is a way to connect with nature allowing him to channel and create his own representations, through a contemporary organic style with influence from native Maori art.
Over the years, Nick has been taking time to travel with Maddy to many of the Jade locations around the world to deepen their knowledge of the world of stone, including China, Canada and Russia.
Each piece is unique as is every stone in this world.
A French native, Maddy studied Art History and Archeology at university which deepened their love for art and its rich history.
They were particularly drawn to stone carving and the restoration of historical monuments.
They spent the next 5 years working as an apprentice stone carver, sculptor, and restorer of Historical Monuments, mostly in Paris. They immersed themself in carving, all the while falling in love with stones. This time in their life had a lasting influence on their own art.
In 2012, at the end of their first year as an apprentice, Maddy won the prestigious French 'Award Future Artistic Careers' from the 'National Institute of the Arts Careers'. They passed their Diploma with distinction as a 'Stone Mason Specialized Sculptor, and Restorator of Historical Monuments'.
In November 2015 Maddy traveled to New Zealand to discover a new culture, art, and influence. Almost immediately they were invited to participate in three local sculpture symposiums in Westport, Hokitika and Greymouth, and were commissioned for two sculptures for the Reefton community. Bringing European style to New Zealand stone, they created a fusion of the two worlds and never looked back.
In August 2016, They discovered their love for jade carving. Kawakawa Stone Limited was created with Nick. Since then, they have traveled the world, creating work and hunting for different Jade sources.
Through these travels, Maddy has discovered different jade cultures and arts, which has influenced their work and grown their practice. Every trip has been “eye opening” into endless sources of inspiration, ideas, and techniques.
In 2017, Maddy participated in the International Jade Competition 'Zi Gang Bei' in Suzhou, China, and received a Gold Medal for her piece 'Ocean'.
In 2019, Maddy participated again in the 'Zi Gang Bei' Festival in China and received another Gold Medal for her piece 'The Spring Puzzle'.
