TLC’s Taita co-ordinator Leah Wynne is herself a TLC graduate. She completed her Diploma of Art and Creativity (Honours) in 2001 and since then has been involved in a variety of art related projects and events.

Leah is a stone carver and has bought her skills to things as varied as children’s holiday programs, community projects and stone symposiums. She’s not always just carving, often involving herself in organizing events such as The Soft as Stone Symposium which appears regularly on Wellington’s waterfront.

Leah works in Oamaru stone, mainly creating stylized and figurative forms, although she does explore animal and marine forms as well. Leah loves sculpting, it brings her a great sense of satisfaction. She prefers hand tools because they give her the time to indulge in and enjoy the process.

On Waitangi day she had the opportunity to have a go at ice-sculpting with another TLC graduate, Aaron Frater. Together they produced a double-sided fish form. Leah says that the ice was beautiful to work with, you could shave off layers to form the shape and to sand you just rubbed it with your hands. Touch is an important part of Leah’s work and many passing people were keen to put their hands on the ice sculpture. She said there was something magical about watching it slowly melt away at the end, changing shape as it disappeared.

Leah will be working on a large ice sculpture, carved from a single block of ice, throughout the Festival of Art and Creativity. She’s thinking about pursuing the fish theme and is really excited about having another adventure with this new medium. You’ll be able to see Leah carving and talk to her about her work throughout the day.