New Zealand Pacific Studio AiR
2020 AiR
As Artist in Residence and Masterton District Fellow,
I had no idea what was coming… This was written as my artist residency entered its second month, March.
As 2020’s Masterton District Fellow, my time in New Zealand Pacific Studio’s artist in residence program is dedicated to exploring Wairarapa and participating in Masterton’s dynamic art community.
New Zealand Pacific Studio is an organization whose mission nurtures “building personal practice, collective well-being and creative capability through the finding and sharing of stories and processes that honour and protect our local culture, history and environments.” The network of people within this organization made every possible opportunity available to me, whether it be finding materials, meeting art groups, interviews or securing space for work and presentations. Every person I encountered in this fellowship experience offered me opportunities to expand my art making in every way. I am beyond grateful.
I came with no preordained project as to observe my own creative process when starting at square one. The “finding and sharing of stories” stated in NZPS mission, is a wonderful artistic quest! I am sent in the right direction for my square one…The Wairarapa Archive is a wealth of historical and cultural knowledge.
The environment, so new to me, opens up visual languages that find their way into my drawings. While my map collage process translates these observations well, especially with donated New Zealand maps, both cartographical and aerial, my artistic process also expands into very different avenues with hill drawings and paintings.
In studio @ConArt, the awesome storage container artist studio space.
Not only did this residency provide the space to focus on my art, it also challenged me to give presentations on my creative evolution and my work in the film industry. As I had been actively noting my creative process in action, the follow through of a presentation was a perfect community connection! (It is a rare moment when I actually have time to sit down and write.) This was an indispensable opportunity that allowed me to connect with the local art clubs. Both the Masterton Art Club and Wai Art, of Carterton have enthusiastic members who initiate some great conversations on creativity.
Masterton is a special town for an artist. Within a small radius, the Masterton Arts Quarter fits a number of art organizations, each offering a unique experience, making for a thriving art community. Aratoi Wairarapa Museum of Art&History is a wonderful exhibition space for local and national artists. King Street Artworks is art-making space open to all for the strength of community building and the mental well being of all. Te Patukituki is a Máori art space guided by tradition and skilled artisans. Masterton Art Club is a historical art, (100yr old?) with open work nights classes, another wonderful community! New Zealand Pacific Studio not only introduced me to all aspects of the community, but also secured a very special work space for me.
ConArt Studios, Brilliant use of storage container units! Art studios open to the public and a gallery full of local art! What a great experience! I connected with so many people, from local artists, art supporters traveling through, those visiting fro the Golden Shears, curious kids and the wonderful enthusiastic people of Masterton!
ConArt is a small collective of shipping containers turned into a little art village! The containers are work studios, open to the public, artists rent on a monthly basis. There is a container gallery as well! This is a wonderful opportunity for local artists and makers to connect with the public and have a place to make their works available to purchase! I treasure my time at ConArt! I was in the eye and conversation of the community. From experienced local artists, to curious youth and everyone who passed through Masterton stopped in. As an artist in residence from the other side of the world, the element of participating in the local art community is a goal achieved!
Another project inspired from the creative walls of Masterton, literally, is my collaboration with the Outdoor Poems Project, headed up by Chris Daniels. You can read more on my Odd Days post, Poem to Painting.
