Creative ID: 5
I live on the North Shore of Auckland and am often downtown for school or work commitments. I am totally open to pretty much going anywhere in the greater Auckland area if it works with schedules, traffic, pay etc.
My arts or creative practice (including details about my specific focus within that art form/practice and my strengths)
I started artistic life as a painter with a small amount of sculpture and assemblage in my practice. Currently I am in 'play mode' pursuing a Post Grad Dip. FA at Elam, exploring a range of new mediums such as bronze, plasticine, photography, yarn, and more. My research is focusing on the authenticity and uniqueness of the individual within a collective, or mass systems, and (in a nutshell) bringing poetry into the invisible, or unnoticed. I am interested in creativity as it relates to well being, pedagogy, and the authentic self. If we can nurture authenticity in our youth, how does this affect our capacity for implicit strength, joy, learning, and understanding?
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 had three solo exhibitions since 2008 and been part of several group and award shows, the most recent being earlier this year. I have one work in the Sir James Wallace collection at the Pah Homestead, and as mentioned above, am currently pursuing a Post Grad Diploma in Fine Arts at Elam. I also hold a Masters in Arts Management (MA AM 1st Class Hons. 2010) and have worked for various arts organisations such as Touch Compass Dance Co., Indian Ink Theatre Co., NZTrio, as well as Creative New Zealand.
Describe the experience you have had working with children or young people, teaching or facilitating creative processes
I am a Mum of three, two of whom have recently graduated high school and one in year 11. I helped develop an interactive high schools programme with NZTrio that gets young people thinking about how to turn their passions in to a profession. I used to teach adult workshops in the art of 'faux finishing' (special wall finishes for interiors) which was my profession many years ago, and I am currently teaching a young adult one-on-one drawing lessons every Sunday. I have been very involved as a parent - training and teaching on the Waterwise programme to intermediate students, Manager of basketball teams for my kids at intermediate and high school levels, Chairman of the school PTA, chaperone for art gallery, stage production, and literary field trips, and Secretary at Sea Scouts.
Why I want to be part of the Creatives in Schools programme and how my involvement will link to my creative practice
I am interested to explore ways in which creativity can filter into pedagogy and well being. I don't see art as a separate subject, but as a practical tool that can encourage a more synthesised, intrinsic awareness/understanding of things when integrated into all areas of learning. I would love to work with high school level students and teachers to inject creative ideas, 'play', and ways of seeing into lessons that bring interesting connections between curriculum, self, community, and life. And of course to unlock personal authenticity and creative ownership in the process.