Creative ID: 29
Dunedin. Otago. Southland. Wataki. Lower South Island. I have mobile equipment and trailer to transport it all. I am set up to have an on-the-road studio.
My arts or creative practice (including details about my specific focus within that art form/practice and my strengths)
I have built up a screen printing and design business, with studio and gallery. I specialise in live screen printing at events, with the ethos of printing on clothes people already have, and not buying more stuff. I have been working with local community groups and festivals around the South Island for 10 years. I recently worked with high school groups to produce home-made merchandise for the Amped Music Project, and with Dunedin Kaitiaki school groups to make t-shirt prints with them. I encourage firstly pre-loved clothing and BYO, but otherwise direct clients to ethical options. Working in garment image design, I became quickly aware of the waste and one-off nature of the merchandise industry, so developed a way to do things differently. I started by taking Otago Art school courses whilst bringing up my second child. Then doing art sessions with my children's classes. I've built up to working one festival each month, with a mix of local community projects in between. I would love the opportunity to work with more young people, in a focused and project-based environment.
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
Ten years of successfully fulfilling obligations made to various local events and groups. I printed in Department of Conservation with school groups. I have taught stencil making and screen printing on site for a week at the Luminate festival. I taught high school students from the Amped Music Project how to design a logo to put on sticker art, which then I produced in my studio to promote their music events. I am driven and motivated to promote the self-employment and home business model. Having people come to view my studio and gallery space that I have incorporated into our family home.
Describe the experience you have had working with children or young people, teaching or facilitating creative processes
- Creekfest.
- Town Belt Kaitiaki.
- Waitati Music and Art festival.
- Amped Music Project.
- Valley project school holiday workshops.
- Stencil making workshops at Luminate festival, Burning Horse festival, Circulation Circus festival.
I try to bring engaging projects that match the age of the group I am working with. Being a parent I have discovered the importance of not putting my own ideas on to the students but giving them the tools and confidence to express themselves.
Why I want to be part of the Creatives in Schools programme and how my involvement will link to my creative practice
I would like to be involved with encouraging people to use local artists and think before they click on cheap unsustainable printed garments and merchandise. I enjoy watching the delight of the students, and the immediate thrill of screen printing. Working a design through to completed usable item. It would extend my growing involvement with youth and community-based projects.