Tying Traditions Together explores the deep and ongoing relationships between artists, poets, and the awa (rivers) of Murihiku. Since the gallery’s founding 42 years ago, artists and writers have been invited to engage with the Mataura River as both subject and source of inspiration. This enduring dialogue is richly reflected in the gallery’s permanent collection.

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At the heart of the exhibition are works by Marilynn Webb, Trevor Moffitt, and Irish painter Barrie Cooke—an avid angler whose practice was closely tied to river environments. Their visual responses are complemented by the poetic voices of laureates Brian Turner, Bill Manhire, and Cilla McQueen. Together, these artists and writers have woven a layered and evocative tribute to place, highlighting the cultural, ecological, and emotional