Creative ID: 485
My arts or creative practice (including details about my specific focus within that art form/practice and my strengths)
I am a visual artist. I mainly express myself through acrylic painting and origami paper folding.
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 attended Toihoukura Māori Visual Art School some years ago. The following year I achieved a Bachelor of Māori Visual Arts and was awarded the Ruanuku award (top in the school). More recently, I also attended Te Wananga O Aotearoa, Whirikoka Campus where I spent two years furthering my education in Māori Visual Arts. I have exhibited twice at a local cafe. I am currently working on a mural for a local restaurant, and am working towards a collaborative exhibition at a local museum.
Describe the experience you have had working with children or young people, teaching or facilitating creative processes
I have worked at several local schools alongside their tamariki to create murals that reflect their school and the surrounding stories from the area. I also worked at another school on a tukutuku panel project with senior students. I have taught classes at the museum for their school holiday programme, and have run my own after school art programme for children. I am also a primary teacher and have been teaching for over 20 years. I currently work part-time at a local school teaching mindfulness to all year levels.
Why I want to be part of the Creatives in Schools programme and how my involvement will link to my creative practice
For me this type of project is a marriage of my two passions... teaching children and creating art. I have always enjoyed working with children and igniting their creativity in art. One of the reasons I went to study at Toihoukura Maori Visual Art School was to take the knowledge I learnt there and share it with our tamariki.