Amanda Stowers (she/her/they/them), the Samoan artist behind Masina Creative, draws inspiration from her Samoan heritage and the way-finding Mana of her ancestors. Named for her Nana, who was named for the moon, Stowers’s work honors her family’s journey from Samoa to Aotearoa and later, the diaspora. Having grown up in the diaspora with little cultural representation, Stowers’s return to Aotearoa fulfills her dreams and those of her Tua’a. Through handcrafted ceramic pieces featuring Samoan tatau motifs, created with clay, Stowers aims to center her culture, build stronger Pasifika communities, and foster others’ identity journeys. Each unique piece is thrown, carved, glazed, and fired by hand, embodying alofa and the Mana of her ancestors.