Creative ID: 130
New Zealand-wide, given travel and related costs can be compensated.
My arts or creative practice (including details about my specific focus within that art form/practice and my strengths)
I'm a Dunedin artist and muralist working mostly in oils and acrylics, often on or with found objects. I favour a loose, gestural style that lends itself to both portraits and landscapes, but can work in a wide range of styles, including graphic/stylised murals. My work, including murals, can be viewed on Facebook.
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 proven capacity to create effectively, having worked both independently and collaboratively, creating art and murals with and for students, schools, communities, private enterprise and private commissions. Each project has required a specific and personalised approach according to environment, purpose and concepts envisioned.
Describe the experience you have had working with children or young people, teaching or facilitating creative processes
I conducted a collaborative project with a school in Dunedin to paint a mural in a nearby pedestrian underpass, drawing on kura and community values and integrating/consolidating artwork created by the children themselves. I also coordinated contributory mural painting by school-selected pupils from across the school's full primary age range. I've also completed mural and playground game artwork for two further Dunedin schools.
Why I want to be part of the Creatives in Schools programme and how my involvement will link to my creative practice
I have experience working with students and community in a collaborative fashion. Engaging with collective art projects can improve students’ mental well-being, through emotional gains, pride, and self-esteem. There are additional benefits for the wider school whānau in enhancement of their school environment, through murals illustrating kura and community values and taonga. Art is a great means of facilitating tuakana teina, and developing key competencies among all students, such as thinking, using language symbols and text, managing self, relating to others and participating and contributing. I would welcome the opportunity to share my artistic skills, inspiration, and experience with your school.