Creative ID: 178
I am available and am located in Auckland but am also interested in other locations if there are other opportunities.
My arts or creative practice (including details about my specific focus within that art form/practice and my strengths)
I grew up exploring the wild tracks of the Waitakere Ranges in New Zealand, this is where my passion for nature began. I graduated from Whitecliffe College of Art and Design in 2014, where I learned to combine my love of nature with science and art. I began deconstructing and manipulating data, which allowed me to alter different sets of information and its authority. This process of creating works has allowed me to share my message with others and really develop my passion for the environment; all while growing my primary interests of colour, shape, repetition, geometry and pattern. In the past year my practice has made some big steps, I have focused on making my practice more sustainable and I dived in to printmaking. I completed two residencies last year giving myself time to create and learn. I am not restricted by mediums and love learning how to use new materials. I am passionate about education and have been art teaching for seven years.
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
Since graduating in 2014 I have had two solo exhibitions, one pop-up show and a studio space showcasing local creatives. Over the past five years I have gained experience in multiple facets of the art world and have been challenging myself to push my creative boundaries and learn new skills. I have worked in the commercial side of the creative world where I learned how to work in a fast paced and high pressure environment at a design company. I am an experienced studio and showroom assistant for a company, and have enjoyed learning key skills on the how to run an inspiring and successful art space. Working as an art tutor I found my passion for education and have since worked for a children's fine arts programme, a contemporary gallery, an arts education centre, and ran my own workshops. This year I launched my own project to encourage other creatives to share their skills and to help make creativity accessible to everyone. I am looking to immerse myself in exciting creative environments and extend my passion for education.
Describe the experience you have had working with children or young people, teaching or facilitating creative processes
I have been working for a children's fine arts programme teaching primary aged children for five years, I have taught workshops at an Auckland Intermediate School and a workshop for teachers at a Primary School. I have also taught some beautiful courses at a gallery and an arts education centre over the years. My pop-up studio space earlier this year focused on workshops and making creativity accessible to everyone, I taught my own workshops and facilitated over five others. I love teaching and am a confident communicator. I love working with nature and think it is important to keep creativity at the forefront for young children.
Why I want to be part of the Creatives in Schools programme and how my involvement will link to my creative practice
I am incredibly excited about this opportunity because I believe a lot of creative thinking is taught 'out' of children in the school curriculum, we should be pushing creativity, focusing on new ways of thinking and how to express ourselves (I believe this is directly connected to some of the mental health issues affecting our young people now). I believe there is a lot of untapped space around schools that we could turn into exciting, creative, learning projects. I am so excited about the blank walls, the empty spaces and the potential for filling these voids with colour and art. Environment is so important, we should be surrounding our young people (and adults!) with stimulating and effective spaces.