‘Held in Remembrance’ poppy art installation and RSA fundraiser
- Sarah Ritchie
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
I am excited to announce that ‘Held in Remembrance’ is now open for viewing and donations!
Felters from Aotearoa New Zealand and around the world have contributed hundreds of handmade felted poppies to create this installation, acknowledging service and sacrifice. The work is both an act of remembrance and a collective gesture of care.
This installation has been created as a fundraising initiative in support of the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services’ Association (RNZRSA). Donations help the RNZRSA continue to improve the health and wellbeing of New Zealand’s veterans of military service and their families.
If this work moves you, please consider making a donation by scanning the QR code below. All donations, large or small, are gratefully received.
A special thank you to you
As a gesture of thanks, qualifying donors* will receive one of the felted poppies from this art installation as a thank you for your generosity.
*To qualify:
Donations must be made via the special RSA QR code (below), so they can be connected to this project.
The donation amount must be NZ$25.00 or greater.
Donations can be received from anywhere in the world.
Ensure you complete the information required for a receipt and include your name and full postal address.
Poppies will be allocated at random and posted via standard post within one month of the exhibition closing.
Thank you poppies are limited to the first 285 qualifying donations received (one for each poppy in the installation) up to 2 May 2026.
Held in Remembrance
Poppies created by 50+ international felters
Assembled by Sarah Ritchie and Clare Hocking
3.6m wide x 2m high
287 hand-felted poppies made from wool fibre
On display as part of the Auckland Felters’ Deeply Felt exhibition
Nathan Homestead Pukepuke, Auckland
21 March – 2 May 2026
With thanks to the poppy makers
This installation has been made possible through the generosity of more than 50 felters from Aotearoa New Zealand and around the world. These contributors gave their time, resources, and heart to create the handmade poppies that form this installation in support of remembrance and the RSA.
Clare Hocking, New Zealand
Fay Barnaby, New Zealand
Jackie Barteloni, USA
Rae Bennett, New Zealand
Teri Berry, New Zealand
Helena Bourque, Canada
Julia Bradbury-Bates, UK
Treena Burnie, New Zealand
Liliane Carrier, Canada
Loriane Coker, New Zealand
Lou Collins, Channel Islands
Janice Crail, New Zealand
Jill Dickonson, New Zealand
Jane Dolan , New Zealand
Julie Dowland, New Zealand
Sue Edlin, New Zealand
Jane Fernandez, Canada
Annabel Finding, Channel Islands
Sam Flewelling, Canada
Janice Goguen, Canada
Sue Gould, New Zealand
Robin Guenzel, New Zealand
Anna Harris, New Zealand
Cathi Henriquez, USA
Barbara Johns, New Zealand
Isabelle Joiner, New Zealand
Margaret Joppa, New Zealand
Lorraine Lacroix, Canada
Wendy Logan, Canada
Joss Mahoney, New Zealand
Christina Marty, New Zealand
Laura Moffett, Northern Ireland
Emerise Nowlan, Canada
Marielle Poirier, Canada
Rachelle Poirier, Canada
Frances Register, New Zealand
Sarah Ritchie, New Zealand
Jaq Spirrett, New Zealand
Jenny Thomas, New Zealand
Gemma Torr, New Zealand
Hazel Underwood, Channel Islands
Emarina Watson, New Zealand
Pauline Whitmore, New Zealand
Mary Williams, Canada
Robyn Wilson, New Zealand
Lois Windsor, New Zealand
Kathryn Worley, USA
Westland Felters (various contributors),
New Zealand
Stephanie, Auckland Felters, New Zealand
Regina, Auckland Felters, New Zealand
Cheryl, Auckland Felters, New Zealand
Special thanks to Jaq Spirrett (Auckland Felters) for creating the felted barbed wire featured in this installation.
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