Art curator, storyteller, and champion of overlooked artists Julia Waite has an eye for the unseen. As Kairauhī Toi no Aotearoa / Curator of New Zealand Art at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, she’s spent years bringing forgotten narratives to light—most recently with Modern Women: Flight of Time. But when it comes to bedtime, Julia keeps things simple: a firm queen-sized bed, a strong preference for cotton, and a steadfast commitment to getting at least nine hours of sleep. We climbed under the covers with Julia to talk about childhood bedrooms, sculptural pillows, and why her feet are always cold.
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In Bed With... Julia Waite
1. Who are you?
I’m Julia Waite, Kairauhī Toi no Aotearoa/ Curator of New Zealand Art at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki. I’m an art historian interested in deep story telling and highlighting artists who’ve been overlooked or misunderstood.
2. What does the public know best about you?
I’m the curator of the exhibition Modern Women: Flights of Time which is on now at Auckland Art Gallery (closes 23 February). I’ve been associated with a number of exhibition projects involving amazing twentieth century artists like Louise Henderson and Frida Kahlo.
3. Tell us about one of your greatest achievements?
My greatest achievement – being a good sleeper! Love getting at least 9 hours.
4. Are you a cotton, linen or something else person?
Strongly cotton.
5. Do you sleep in black or white or colour?
White or colour, although I like the idea of black and white stripes.
6. Describe you perfect bed?
Not too big and not too small. A firm Queen is ideal! I like it loosely made up; I don’t like it tight.
7. Does size matter, when it comes to beds?
Absolutely because I’m so tall. I can’t have a bed head on a too-short bed!
8. What is your must-have bedroom extravagance?
Silence.
9. Tell us about the most memorable bedroom you’ve slept in.
It was my bedroom in a house we briefly lived in during my childhood. It was a Modernist Wellington house and my bedroom had been very carefully decorated in red with boldly patterned red Marimmekko-ish wallpaper.
10. What’s your favourite bedroom story?
I had three brothers so my bedroom was a sort of sanctuary. I spent a lot of time there tidying and arranging things, which was probably an early form of curation.
11. What’s your favourite bedtime story?
The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin (1903) by Beatrix Potter.
12. Have you eaten spaghetti carbonara in bed? If not, what’s the best thing
you’ve eaten in bed?
No, but last night I had a roast dinner with cauliflower cheese in bed.
13. What present or past figure would you like to be serenaded or entertained by?
New Zealand artist June Black ((1910-2009) would be dramatically entertaining.
14. Watch, listen or read, what are you currently consuming in bed?
Shōgun on Disney and I’m reading a wonderful biography of sculptor Barbara Hepworth.
15. What are your relaxation night time rituals?
Brushing my teeth and then cuddling on the bed with our cat Morris who’s named after William Morris.
16. Have you ever made a hot water bottle cover? Do you make art in bed?
I love them but I’ve never made one. My hot water bottle cover is made of Swandri fabric. As for artmaking, let’s say Performance Art and Conceptual Art!
17. Pillows; fluffy or flat, 1,2 or more?
I’m very particular about pillows! I’ve got a hard sculptured pillow. It’s like resting my head on a wooden Tongan headrest, which I like.
18. Blankets or duvet, why?
Both, but with a strong leaning to the duvet. I like the warmth of blankets but not their weight.
19. Do you have cold feet when going to bed?
They’re Antarctic cold 24/7.
20. Night owl or morning lark?
Morning lark
Nighty night.
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