Creative ID: 111
Whangarei.
My arts or creative practice (including details about my specific focus within that art form/practice and my strengths)
I am a creative technologist, performance artist and consultant. Within my creative practice I develop mixed and augmented reality applications, create interactive installations and perform live-mixed visuals and sounds. My work engages a number of different materials and technologies including mixed reality and augmented software, experimental 3D and 2D animation, Arduino, IoT, ink drawing, pencil sketching, data manipulation, sound sampling and live visual mixing. I exhibit and perform regularly at gigs, festivals and in galleries, but also in public spaces (including zoos, industrial estates and town centres). My sketches, experiments, videos, installations and performances are designed to challenge the boundaries of digital and physical, real and unreal, true and fictional. Educating and consulting in the area of creative technologies is a passion of mine. I have facilitated a number of workshops across my career teaching artists, students (at all levels) and the public about emerging technologies (including mixed and augmented reality, 3D Animation, Arduino, E-Textiles and VJing). I also taught physical computing programming and general studio at University for ten years, working with undergraduate and postgraduate students, and staff across the faculty.
My track record of experience and success - or the track record of experience and success of the creative or artist that I will partner with
I have a Masters in Creative Technology (Hons) from Colab, AUT University and have 35 years as a working creative technologist. I have participated in a number of public performances, exhibitions and projects in my field with a degree of critical success and have worked on projects with primary schools as part of my practice with a creative technology production company.
Describe the experience you have had working with children or young people, teaching or facilitating creative processes
I have experience working with children and young people in creative contexts, most recently via a number of a creative technology production company's projects (an organisation with which I collaborate). I have taught young people at university but have also worked with primary school children in in-school projects as well as community workshops. I work with a number of different technologies including augmented reality, animation and Arduino. I am able to teach a wide variety of digital art and creative technology-related skills including animation, interactive sound, mobile app development and game design.
Why I want to be part of the Creatives in Schools programme and how my involvement will link to my creative practice
I would enjoy working with a younger age group than those at tertiary level and have consistently enjoyed primary school projects in particular. At this level students are still working in an integrated learning environment and there is scope to bring emerging technology, creativity and the curriculum together in new ways. Working with schools supports capacity building in our industry and helps connect students not only to technology but also to their imaginations. In terms of my practice it is a great opportunity to try out new ideas and practices with a relatively fresh and appreciative audience.