about
Art has always been a big part of my life and as practicing artist and registered counsellor specialising in expressive therapies I have a passion for engaging with others through art in various ways. My predominantly intuitive use of organic materials and found objects promotes self-discovery and connection with the environment and helps me to feel inspired, emotionally balanced and grounded. In recent years I developed and facilitated experiential workshops in collaboration with blind art enthusiast Geoffrey Munck, designed for anyone with an interest in process-oriented, multi-sensory, creative exploration. These experiences generate opportunities for a richer understanding of how we individually perceive and conceptualise our world through senses other than vision and via the power of language which can increase mutual understanding.
In my mixed-media work I continue the focus on the tenuous, liminal elements of the world around and within us, on transformation and impermanence as well as the alchemy of working with natural materials and found objects. I am drawn to nature's discards and other found objects that are often overlooked by others. These small everyday wonders are a constant source of inspiration, to be found anywhere while I wander the world. My aim is to maintain the nature of the materials as much as possible in my works, keeping them as raw, fragile and broken as they are. While the works are overtly tactile, they hint at unreachable secrets.
Viewers often find the use of organic and man made materials like human hair, driftwood, plant materials, wax, kombucha fabric, bones, rusty metal pieces, both compelling and confronting as it evokes thoughts around our own vulnerability, life and death and how we feel about changes within and around us throughout time. All gathered materials and found objects have their own individual history; their journeys are told in the marks and scars that catch my attention. The quality of discovery is an essential component of my work which is often process oriented. It is the element of unpredictability in the materials that intrigues me. Each piece has its own natural momentum. Memories, reflections and emotions get inexplicitly caught up in the materials’ past. The works then are as transient as the materials themselves, yet like the original forms they are created from, their content remains resilient, personal and adaptable. I always aims to leave enough untold to inspire the imagination of those who cross their path.
More recently I have been focusing on creating multi-sensory works that can also be experienced by people with low or no vision. These works might include elements of touch, sound and smell, providing and immersive, interactive and sometimes collaborative experiences.
Furthermore, I am currently deepening and increasing my work in the field of expressive therapies in private practice on Bribie Island. To learn more, please click here.
