A way with words, an eye for art and deep-rooted love of the land converges for Laura Morrison, who is paving the way when it comes to telling the story of agriculture.
At The Gullies, the Rangitikei farm she and husband Richard and their two boys Henry and Fergus call home, she’s fostering a connection between art and agriculture.
The emphasis is on family, a farm built on heritage and focused on ethical livestock genetics. A place where art and agriculture meet.
With 200 hectares (effective) the farm has a small Hereford herd and 1400 breeding ewes. They are proud to be the home of Wiltshires in New Zealand, the original flock of self-shedding sheep imported by Richard’s grandfather in the 1980s. “It’s a lovely legacy to own.”
The couple launched The Gullies Arts Residency last year and welcomed their first artist, Andrew McLeod in January. The concept provides a New Zealand artist with an eight-week residency to spend time on the farm and incubate ideas. From the residency, a limited-edition print is created and sold, providing revenue back to The Gullies.
Then there’s the drool-worthy three-bedroom accommodation and meeting space, The Cottage. Laura called on her love of all things art, art history and New Zealand art to create an everyday luxury, boutique aesthetic when styling the house.
As if all of this doesn’t keep her busy enough, she also has a part-time role with Federated Farmers Arable.
Their on-farm initiatives and Laura’s ability to communicate through words in a way that is intelligent and meaningful really strikes a chord with me.
“I don’t necessarily have the farming expertise to be a change maker, and there’s enough cooks in that kitchen. But in terms of connecting through positive stories, I don’t think there are enough cooks. If I can facilitate farmers to have conversations and have their voice heard, that’s great.”
Describe yourself in 3 words: Compassionate, courageous, cheerleader – I really love cheerleading for others.
What inspires you? I know it’s obvious, but the farm. And within history, not from a living in the past perspective, but I think if we look back and understand what has gone on, we can equip ourselves to have a stronger and more robust future. Quietly reminding ourselves that we are just a blink of an eye in one generation, I think that can be both overwhelming and comforting. It’s about walking that path between the two. And music and art.
What synergies do you see between art and agriculture? How deeply artists and farmers think generally, and needing that space and quiet in order to ruminate and think deeply. In different ways they both take on the weight of society, for the farmer it’s producing food and, for the artist, providing a commentary on where society is at or wanting to bring important issues to the fore through their work. I think both the farmer and the artist are typically pretty generous of spirit and generous with the information and knowledge they’re willing to share.
Favourite artist? That’s like naming your favourite album and then it changes every three years! I think my favourite artist of all-time is Paul Gauguin, a French artist who spent time in Tahiti. It’s that blend of modernism and classic art, vibrant colours and story-telling. He was a big shot French artist who spent time in the Pacific, and there’s this Pacific freshness about his work.
Locally, there are so many incredible artists – John Walsh, Seraphine Pick and Star Gossage, a very important artist of our time, are three for people to start with. And obviously, Andrew McLeod.
Best advice you’ve ever received? These are quotes, but Elizabeth Warren ‘nevertheless, she persisted’ and Winston Churchill ‘never, never, never give up’.
Dream way to spend a day? Both the boys have snuck into our bed in the night, I’ve woken up and the whole family is in bed, I get a coffee brought to me. We all go for a bush walk on the farm, then load the dogs on the back of the ute and head to the coast for the afternoon. Later on, it’s all quiet at home and I’m watching a documentary – probably on someone like Elizabeth I – with a nice cold New Zealand craft beer.
What are you listening to/reading? Cut the Crop, it’s a Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) podcast. The knowledge within FAR is so amazing, even though I’m a sheep and beef farmer I find it so helpful and insightful.
I also love listening to The Rex Factor podcast. It’s these two British guys that have gone through every English monarch in history, they do a bio and rate them. It’s like the X Factor, but the Rex Factor.
Reading wise, I’ve got a new book, Agroecology & Regenerative Agriculture (Vandana Shiva), it’s just come out and I can’t wait to read it.
Two books I always, always come back to, to read for comfort, are Anne of Green Gables (Lucy Maud Montgomery) and Persuasion (Jane Austen).