Creative ID: 183
Dunedin area especially near Brockville or Central City.
My arts or creative practice (including details about my specific focus within that art form/practice and my strengths)
I am a textile multi-media artist with a strong focus on sustainability, learning about nature, and celebrating and encouraging cultural diversity and inclusion. I am studying clothing upcycling and have been exploring and teaching eco dye and eco printing techniques which I would love to share with tamariki and the community. I have studied textiles and jewellery and I make my own adornment. I work with all sorts of recycled and found materials using simple and fun techniques. I would like to encourage children to develop their own creativity and their belief in their own and others' unique qualities. I can work with groups in free-form art classes and I am also happy to design specific projects. I also love Māori, Pacifica and other ethnic/cultural art-forms and while I am Pākehā and not an expert in these fields, I have developed some skills and am happy to teach what I know and to work with other creatives to run classes around these ideas. I have taken some classes at a local primary school and have designed many lesson plans to encourage kids to draw and to collect leaves, shiny paper, old clothes, and fabric scraps to make masterpieces.
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
- MA in Fine Arts specialising in textiles.
- BA in Social Anthropology and Sociology.
- Graduate diploma in Indigenous Development.
- Post-graduate diploma in Social Anthropology.
- Practising artist.
Describe the experience you have had working with children or young people, teaching or facilitating creative processes
I am interested in human development, I like children and I have taken some art classes with children from all ranges and I also like teaching adults who might also be helping in the class. Teaching is a learning experience too and I know I will find this experience great. I have contacted other public agencies recently about running art classes with the public and this is a field I have many skills in and would like to expand into.
Why I want to be part of the Creatives in Schools programme and how my involvement will link to my creative practice
Because I think art is a great thing for children to learn and I love art and helping people learn. Creativity and visual arts is another way for children to explore their talents and to excel especially when they find it difficult in other areas of school. Art teaches problem-solving skills and helps children adapt to a rapidly changing world. Art is also one of the few social avenues which celebrates people and culture and I want to encourage this philosophy.