Creative ID: 137
West Auckland and Central Auckland areas.
My arts or creative practice (including details about my specific focus within that art form/practice and my strengths)
I am a contemporary New Zealand artist of Māori (Te Mahurehure) Irish and Scottish descent, I have a BVA and am represented by a contemporary art gallery. A finalist in the Wallace Art Awards and National Portrait Award, I have work in numerous public and private collections. My large painted silhouette artwork focuses on Identity and in particular my Māori and European Grandmothers. My work explores memories and stories of whānau and whakapapa. A red thread runs through all my paintings, which embodies i ngā wā ō mua, the Māori world view to take the past with us into the future for guidance. I have worked with various school groups from Preschool through to High school and currently work part time as and art educator for school groups and also with alternative education students.
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 BVA and have been an actively practicing and exhibiting artist for 16 years, I have had numerous solo shows and am represented by a contemporary art gallery. I have been a finalist in the Walker and Hall, Wallace Trust Art Awards and National Portrait Award. My work is in various public and private collections across New Zealand. A kindergarten and a primary school both secured Creative Communities funding to have me create outdoor artworks for them and engage with their students as part of the process. Last year I gifted and installed a large outdoor work at a primary school and ran identity art workshops with every class in the school. I gained funding also that year from the Ministry For Women's 125 suffrage fund for my project in which I ran public art workshops for children and adults based on the identity given to them by a significant woman in their family. I have had various reviews and interviews over national media related to my art practice and exhibitions.
Describe the experience you have had working with children or young people, teaching or facilitating creative processes
I am passionate about working with children of all ages (I am also a mum of three, step-mum of three and nanny to two wee grandchildren). I have created various artworks at schools in Auckland and have been invited to talk to schools as many use my artwork as a model for their students. I have worked with children from kindergarten through to high school level. I currently work part-time as an educator where I am part of a team who write and teach visual art programmes to students (up to 60 in a session) of mostly primary and intermediate school age, I also work a few hours a week in an alternative education programme for youth who are going through the justice system. I believe and have seen how art opens up different synapses in the brain and can connect us to our identity. I am passionate about helping students express their own identity/whakapapa/family stories/turangawaewae through art. I also love telling community school stories through art as a different way of engaging all ages in the land and history that they stand within.
Why I want to be part of the Creatives in Schools programme and how my involvement will link to my creative practice
I love working with students and believe that art is something that can bridge the gaps and differences between us. I am passionate about helping young people to strengthen their own identity by expressing it through art. I am inspired in my own art practice by engaging with young people and understanding their stories and this is something that strengthens the kaupapa behind my artworks.