Deb Williams
Bio
I am a textile artist born and raised in the East Coast and now based in Gisborne. With a background in horticulture and a deep love for the nature, this has played a major part in the creation of my works. Fabric is my preferred medium - it’s where my ideas come to life.
Description
My textile works attempt to show the devastation and regeneration of the land after cyclone Gabrielle.
Social - Coming Soon
Contact - debmwilliams@xtra.co.nz
Link to research
Effect of the weather events on the land, the logs, slash and mud that ruined peoples livelihoods, and the slow regeneration of the land.
Deb’s work traces the scars left on the whenua by extreme weather — the torrents of logs, slash, and mud that swept through paddocks and rivers, ruining livelihoods and leaving communities reeling. Her piece sits with that devastation, but also looks to the slow, patient regeneration of the land.
This speaks directly to the research findings, where participants described how forestry slash and sediment compounded the impacts of the cyclone:
“The mud and the logs came down with the water — it wasn’t just a flood, it was everything moving at once. Our whenua is still carrying those wounds.”
At the same time, the report reminds us of the resilience of the whenua itself, and the role of people in nurturing its recovery:
“The land holds memory of both destruction and renewal. Communities spoke of their responsibility to restore balance and health to whenua and waterways.”
Deb’s piece honours both realities — the pain of livelihoods lost, and the deep hope in the whenua’s capacity to heal. It is a reminder that regeneration takes time, care, and commitment, and that healing for people and place are inseparable.
