Creative ID: 661
Orakei, Tāmaki Makaurau
My arts or creative practice (including details about my specific focus within that art form/practice and my strengths):
My art practice is kaupapa Māori driven. This means that collective learning spaces are at the heart of the concept design process. Last year I invited university students to take part in a 3-day marae-based wānanga before designing a mural together. In the wānanga we explored local Māori history, heritage, culture, identity, values, and environmental issues, and how these things connected to aspects of their homelands and culture. From this, themes and motifs emerged that shaped our mural design process and content.
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:
Kia ora. We undertake public mural projects with our team arts collective. In recent years we have both undertaken community-based public murals in Auckland, Hamilton, and Maui, Hawaii to name a few. These have been large-scale collaborations with local council and iwi/tribes and art organisations. Our creative process usually responds to local stories and themes provided by the community.
Describe the experience you have had working with children or young people, teaching or facilitating creative processes:
I have been working with an Auckland high school for this project, which is the school that I plan to do this project with. I have worked primarily with rangatahi Māori from ages 6–25 through kaupapa Māori wānanga over the last 8 years. This involves going into high schools and primary schools and doing engaging workshops that often focus on tuakiritanga, Māori culture and identity, environment, and Māori history.
I have worked at primary schools as a teacher aide helping 6–12-year-olds with creative digital projects. I am familiar with the need to work to the requirements and ethics of the Vulnerable Children Act.
Why I want to be part of the Creatives in Schools programme and how my involvement will link to my creative practice:
I am excited to give back to my local high school and inspire other rangatahi to realise their dreams in the creative fields. Tuakana/teina is a mentor/mentee learning process of which I have experienced and seen the benefits. I’m passionate about other rangatahi meeting and learning alongside local Māori artists like myself and how my creative practice can help share and grow understandings of our environment, culture, heritage, and history.