Creative ID: 690
My arts or creative practice (including details about my specific focus within that art form/practice and my strengths)
I am a cast glass artist with a reputation for running clay casting open workshops and 3D vessel making. I’m an educator of glass for over 10+ years with significantly excellent history as a tutor in my field. My website is currently under review to make way for my own new body of work. The specific focus would be for children or kura to make small clay models ready for glass casting fired in my kiln in Auckland. I currently live in Auckland and work out of my small studio there. Clay is a great way for participants to learn the art of glass casting using an open cast form by using clay and objects to press into the clay in order for them to cast a 2D object in cast glass. I have also received certificates for Te Ao Māori, He Papa tikanga and commenced learning Te Reo before I moved to Greenlane. I have a little knowledge of the Māori world view.
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 a track record of delivering and successfully running creative community scheme workshops for people: including adults or young adults to older adults, both male and female. I was instrumental in bringing glass to my region during 2017, which culminated in a local Arts Festival having its first glass section exhibition in 2017; the supreme award of that very first exhibition went to a glass artist. I ran a children's free workshop called carving for casting with children from all around the local region, (up to 12 children between the ages of 9 and 12). I also have a collaborative partner where we cast taonga and finish them ready for market. I have a new initiative between myself and a colleague who has experience working within kura all over Auckland, as well as running workshops in bone and stone carving. More information including Facebook links to our work is available on request.
Describe the experience you have had working with children or young people, teaching or facilitating creative processes
I am an experienced educator in the field of cast glass. A medium which is both alluring and reflects light so well. It isn't a normal medium where everyone can do it, nor teach without experience as a professional artist themselves. There are many intricacies with cast glass. I have been teaching workshops on my own accord spanning several years, and have been successful with objective outcomes. I have run a free carving for casting for young people, where children from 9-12 years old carved out a block ready for filling with different gaffer lead crystal glass. The children were fantastic, and able to comprehend what was required of them. We don’t give children enough credit for their ability to harness their creativity in a way with a material that reflects and refracts light. They learn about positive and negative space through demonstration by myself.
I love teaching in my field so as the skills to cast glass are not lost, since we are a small community of glass artists in New Zealand. I have run adult cast glass workshops in my studio and other studios. My equipment is all tested and tagged should I require to take these with me to other venues. However, with a clay casting workshop, no heat is required and no wax will be used. Children will learn how to roll out clay; so very tactile for them. We all like mud at some stage of our lives. I am a well-known caster in this country and have a following of those who choose to follow my historical work as a Chinese New Zealander, telling stories of my upbringing in Te Tairawhiti.
Why I want to be part of the Creatives in Schools programme and how my involvement will link to my creative practice
I have a desire to teach skills in my medium so that it is not lost. It is a rare opportunity for glass to be taught and it is such a small community. Without those who teach in cast glass, the skills would be lost. It is my wish to be able to expand the field of knowledge within schools so that our younger generation can have an appreciation of a medium they probably do not have much experience in. To see students’ faces light up after they reveal their casts after firing delights my senses and heart for a better world. As an educator and how a schools programme will link to my creative practice is to be able to encourage people to have their own turangawaewae within their own lives and a manaakitanga that expands to all people.