Creative ID: 632
I am currently in Christchurch but am happy to travel to where the project takes me – this allows me to explore and be exposed to areas of New Zealand I wouldn’t otherwise be.
My arts or creative practice (including details about my specific focus within that art form/practice and my strengths):
I have a strong background in theatre set design and scenic art, as an exhibiting artist, art director, and production designer for film and television. I paint large-scale murals for local councils and small businesses, as well as engaging with schools and local community groups. I have travelled extensively throughout New Zealand and Australia working on various productions in film and mural projects. My art focuses on the fluidity between realism and abstraction.
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 designed theatre sets across New Zealand, worked on various award-winning television and film pieces, exhibited my art works across New Zealand, created large-scale public art around New Zealand and Australia, and engaged with community groups and organisations to create and enable public works.
Describe the experience you have had working with children or young people, teaching or facilitating creative processes:
I recently completed a large-scale mural for a local high school, and engaged with and helped enable the vision of the children of Albany Primary School (Western Australia) from which I created a large-scale art work in their school grounds. I have worked with a local youth group, collaboratively creating a large-scale piece of public art.
Why I want to be part of the Creatives in Schools programme and how my involvement will link to my creative practice:
I believe I owe a lot of time and energy to working with schools directly or indirectly with children in creating art as I feel this was a major part of my upbringing and the exposure I had to art inspired me to choose the path I have taken today. It creates a positive and colourful atmosphere for children and opens them up to their immediate environment; naturally and socially to the possibilities of what can be achieved themselves. Working with schools allows me to flex my practice in a different light to what I would usually be able to in the corporate/professional environment and create pieces that deliver far more emotional response.