Staff and teachers at Hutt Valley High recognized natural artistic talent in some of their students. They doodled in their school books and tagged school property.

There was a call for TLC to provide a one day a week art class for these students. The ‘Street Art class’ was born.

This class celebrates and nurtures the natural talent and creativity of these high school students. We challenged them to design and work on individual art projects, based on each student’s interests. We inspired them through their own creative process to see what they were capable of achieving.

Our classes teach art techniques which lead to finished works ready for our end of term Exhibition. The works can be for sale or gifted to family and friends. As part of the ‘Street Art’ class, we invited practicing street artists in to talk to the students about street art. The art school environment is quite a buzz for the high school students and they commented on how welcome they felt at the Learning Connexion.

We are currently running these classes as a pilot programme and have had many enquiries from Auckland, Wellington and Wanganui since we started them one term ago.

We are really proud of the students from Hutt Valley High, for starting something new and paving the way for more students to have the same positive creative experience.
Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

TLC student Sophie Taptiklis is preparing to showcase her work at Thistle Hall in Wellington. She sent us a sneak preview of what will be on display!

“The watercolours, sketches and etchings in this exhibition grow out of an appreciation of New Zealand’s fauna, and a desire to acknowledge the tension in the ability of our birds and wildlife to survive in this modified and polluted environment we live in. Some species manage well, while the forest habitats of others are replaced by car wrecker yards (like in Lower Hutt) or endless acres of sheep and cattle. Hence one of the only place to find traces of these beautiful creations is in recollections on scrap metal.”

Non-Stick Nature
Images of the intricacies of nature by TLC student Sophie Taptiklis
Thistle Hall, 293 Cuba Street, Wellington. Opening 6-8pm Monday 12 July, then open daily 10-6 Tuesday to Sunday.

Preparations for the NZ Art Show 2010 are well underway and now we are recruiting staff to work at the event. The NZ Art Show is taking place Thurs July 29th – Sun Aug 1st.

We are seeking people who hardy, healthy and happy – is that you?

Skills and experience required:
• Excellent customer services skills – a pleasant and friendly manner is an absolute must. Put on yo’ smiley face.
• Excellent physical health – robust, strong and good stamina
• Ability to work with little supervision
• Ability to work quickly and calmly under pressure
• Ability to handle artwork with care
• Patience in quiet times
• A good curatorial eye (optional but handy)
• Experience with powertools (optional)
• Ability to work in crowded situations

For more information please contact:
Midge Murray
04 387 4370
midge@artshow.co.nz

To find out more about The NZ Art Show visit our website

By Jonathan Milne

What do you do when you think no one is interested in your art and you’ll never make a living from it? It is a crisis faced from time to time by most creative people.  It’s normal.  There are ways to cope.

The early days of TLC involved some massive wobbles.  Back in the late 1980s and early 1990s TLC was tiny and vulnerable.  I worked like a maniac to ensure that our classes happened and that they were memorably good.

The money situation was chronically fragile.  I used to jog to the post office every day and hope that new enrolments were in the mail.  I also grabbed opportunities to do other work (mostly part time teaching) to keep the cash flowing.

By far the most positive thing was the progress of students who did our courses.  It was richly exciting and positive for just about everyone who participated.  Excitement doesn’t pay the rent but it’s a signal that something good is happening.  The hunger and enthusiasm of students helped to convince me that TLC ideas were worth fighting for.

Maybe this is more important than anything else.  If you feel that your work matters, that you have something to contribute to the world, then difficulties cease being psychological burdens.  You still have to apply yourself to achieve practical results but it’s a whole lot easier to focus on action instead of being bogged down by worries.

Like most artists I’m not driven by money but I realised that it was important to deal with the financial side of the school.  I felt invigorated talking with marketers and reading books on marketing.  The underlying idea is to draw attention to things of value.

Marketers can be pathologically optimistic and it took time (and many mistakes) before I realised that there are no certainties.  Marketing, like art itself, is a conversation.  You have to discover what works.  The oddest thing I ever did was spray pamphlets with a little whiff of perfume before putting them in letter boxes.  It didn’t sell anything but it did add a new dimension to a hugely boring task.  And of course it was research.  I was learning about the way people connected (the things that don’t work are just as important as the things that do – you learn how to make the best use of your energy).

My current marketing guru is Jeffrey Gitomer (http://www.gitomer.com/).  Gitomer.com is bursting with good tactics (all free) and – hidden behind the blah – an engaging sense of life, the universe and everything.   He encourages you to be effective by being yourself – a great message for artists.

When you hit the inevitable speed wobble, take time out to consider what has worked really well.  Chances are that’s going to be the zone of the ‘real you’.  The next step is to build on what works.  For a dose of hard-headed encouragement you might like to check Gitomer.com.  Then it’s a matter of pondering your situation and figuring out what you can do to make a difference.  In the end it isn’t the wobble that matters, it’s your willingness and ability to make an effective response.

This term we have upgraded our computer suite with beautiful new imac computers, the latest versions of the Adobe Creative Suite, Final Cut Express and animation software Dragon.

We are proud to showcase some of the fabulous work that was created in our documentary class in the computer suite from last term. Here are four new documentaries from TLC Students Tony Ludlam, Adam Minter, Hayley Gastmeier and Courtney Stubbins. Enjoy!

Danger is part of human experience.  Art and creativity always have to come to terms with danger, both physical and psychological.

Evidence of danger is all around.  At airports in Europe it isn’t unusual to see soldiers carrying machine guns, all part of the continuing story of the ‘war against terrorism’.  Outside every school parents deliver and collect their children from the front gate because there is a constant sense of danger on the streets.

It isn’t new.  In southern France, at Le Cros de Caunes-Minervois, there are the remnants of a fortification that dates back nearly three thousand years.  It looks like a pile of rocks but it used to be an imposing defensive position.

Throughout France there are examples of fortifications, mostly castles, some in advanced states of decay, others preserved for tourists.  It appears that people have always had barricades as a defense against marauders.   Mostly, of course, life happened out in the open where people tended their crops, looked after animals and played.

Today the connected feelings of defense and aggression are stoked by rapid reporting of death and disaster.  It isn’t only about fighting and killing – economics and the environment have been turned into horror stories too.  Although there are some dangerous possibilities, we question whether they are worth the chronic fear which is generated by a constant diet of bad news.

The most dangerous aspect of fear is the inhibition of play.  Without play there isn’t much art and creativity.  Without creativity we’re not going to be able to respond effectively to danger.

Play is the starting point of TLC’s Diploma of Art and Creativity.  It’s a paradox.  The economy wobbling, the environment getting messed up, lots of fingers on lots of triggers, and we’re saying “hey, let’s learn how to play.”

Play opens hearts and minds.  There isn’t any single recipe.  Even a simple act of observation can be playful.  It’s as if the whole world is dancing and we are encouraging you to find a way to join in.

A beginning point of play is that it helps us get along together.  When people are getting along well they find it a lot easier to find ways to deal with the things they call ‘problems’.  It becomes easier to do science, make art and develop business.  It helps move us through protective barriers – the mental equivalents of the metal detectors and body-scanners – so that we can be ourselves.

TLC offers the play of engagement rather than the play of distraction.  Our programmes are about engagement with the world.  It’s about the audacity of fun.  If you’re not having fun, you’re not doing it right.

Jonathan Milne (Managing Director)

Save Our Land in Time: Wellington Artists’ environmental message.

Exhibition: Our Land in Time, an exhibition of paintings from Dan Wilkinson and Sandy Rodgers at Tamarillo Gallery, 325 Lambton Quay Wellington, 4 – 26 June 2010.

Our Land in Time is a darkly beautiful exhibition from two Wellington artists: Sandy Rodgers and Dan Wilkinson.

Sandy Rodgers is a talented painter, and passionate about her country.  Her latest work: ‘Protect our forests from mining’ directly addresses the mining issues facing our National Parks and Conservation areas. Rodgers is well known for her paintings referencing the history and origins of Aotearoa, and she says the body of work on display in this exhibition encompasses the history of New Zealand, but also where we are now and where we are heading. The anti-mining painting wrestles with the here and now, Rodgers says.

“Here we are today…this is just one issue that we are currently faced with. The faded flag (ensign) representing what can happen to our nation if we let the jewel in our illustrious crown be destroyed. (Our national parks and conservation areas)”

Sandy grew up in the Hutt Valley, before moving to London and spending six years travelling the world. After years of study, work, travel and general life experience Rodgers says she realised how little she really knew of not only her own heritage but all of New Zealand’s heritage and so made it her personal goal to study, research, read, question and create as much information as possible. She now resides in Island Bay, and her perspective on her home and country is enhanced by the years of distance:

“It is these places that we are still advertising on postcards inviting people to partake in our little slice of paradise.”

Her series also includes an older work titled “Adventure in Maoriland.”  Rodgers explains that this piece is about the settlement of both Maori and Pakeha cultures here in Aotearoa. The title comes from a series of postcards printed at the beginning of the 20^th Century in Wellington by Murray Lloyd Photography. The postcards showed photographs from all over the country of wild and tame New Zealand Scenery. At that time, New Zealand was advertised as a virtual wonderland filled with romantic images of happy and peaceful people living in an idyllic setting. There is also a huia feather in the image, which Rodgers identifies as a reminder of the danger that if we become complacent and take this Eden of ours for granted it can be destroyed, never to be restored!

Rodger’s paintings will be exhibited at Tamarillo Gallery alongside long time artist colleague Dan Wilkinson, whose works explores the physical and spiritual energy of the land. Wilkinson works from a studio on Wellington’s rugged South Coast; he says this inspirational landscape is notable in his new work:  “I am interested in stripping back the land and capturing what is unseen, what makes it so powerful.” Capturing the essence of his surroundings has lead to a more specific passion for the islands of New Zealand & the stories of the land. Wilkinson says he finds Islands such as Mana, Kapiti & Matiu/Somes very special as they are places with very little pollution and contain no predators.

“These are places where trees, insects, birds and the tuatara thrive. There is maybe a hint of what it used to be like before human intrusion. Marine reserves & bird sanctuaries have been a huge step forward into returning the local environment to its most natural state; they act a bit like role models for society.”

Wilkinson’s latest works also reflect his vision for a free flowing sustainable society. He believes that the people of Aotearoa have a responsibility to take care of the land for future generations.  This includes simple things like being aware of the environmental footprints each of us leave behind, with the array of things we consume on a daily basis.

Both artists studied Art & Creativity at The Learning Connexion, where Wilkinson has taught for over 10 years. Sandy Rodgers exhibits widely across the country and you can catch Our Land in Time at Tamarillo Gallery, 325 Lambton Quay from June 4 – 26.

Arts and Marketing and Administration with Eva Yocum

Weekend Class

Start date: May 29 & 30

Eva Yocum

Creating something marvelous is very different to getting it out into the world. This is a practical class on how to go about marketing and administering your art practice. We will create some basic resources, on top of pre-made material, which I’ll be handing out and we will also look at where to find resources in your community to help you with the business side of art.

Zen and the Art of Video Editing

Tutor – Kate Logan

Weekend Class

Start date: May 29 & 30

Editing is an art of storytelling and an art that is unique to the moving image. Not merely a matter of mechanically placing one shot after another; film and video editing is often referred to as the invisible art, because when it is well practised, the viewer can become so engaged with what they are watching that they are not even aware of the editor’s work.

Stanley Kubrick was once quoted as saying: I love editing. I think I like it more that any other phase of film making.

Yaniv Janson has just turned 18 and has already exhibited more art work than many people do in a lifetime. He began painting quite suddenly in 2008 and by the end of his second year of  painting he has featured in over 23 exhibitions, sold paintings around the world, published books and won many awards. Yaniv is the youngest artist to have been selected as a finalist by both the Wallace Art Award and the Waikato Contemporary Art Award, both in 2008.

Yaniv works mainly with paint, but is also trying out some printmaking techniques as part of his study at The Learning Connexion. He keeps a regular blog where you can keep in touch with what he has been up to. He uses this as an effective marketing tool to get his artwork out into the world and to communicate his ideas to his audience.

Yaniv was born ‘outside the square’ with Asperger’s syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder characterized by a difficulty with communicating. Making art has given Yaniv a voice and a language with which to share his ideas with the world and challenge himself. Yaniv’s success has been supported by his parents  who have enthusiastically helped him to explore his passion for art.

His mother says that “For Yaniv art is a lifeline to life – we did not know this when we started this adventure but now that we see what doors art has opened for Yaniv we know! Art has had a significant life changing impact both internally, such as his relating to others in such meaningful ways, and externally, such as getting recognition for his work.”

We asked Yaniv a few questions about his experience at The Learning Connexion, making art and what challenges lay ahead for someone already so accomplished:

How long have you been making art?

“I did art as a young child but then stopped for a long time. I started painting again in summer 2008.”

What drew you to enrol at TLC?

“The reason why I went to that school was because I thought that it would be a good school. We searched on the internet and got in contact with TLC. Then Jonathan came to Hamilton to speak about his book (GO! The Art of Change) and my parents went to see him and thought TLC would be great for me.”

What are some highlights (either artistic or personal) that you have achieved so far?

“I love entering art competitions and selling the paintings and becoming famous! Marcel (my mentor) is focused on helping me realize my dreams and this is great.”

What is your goal with your creativity?

“My short term goal is to learn and get better. Marcel helps me hugely with this. My long term goal would be to win art competitions and sell my art for so much money, like millions of dollars.”

What has been special about the TLC experience for you?

“I get on with Marcel really well. It is great that I can live far away and still improve my art through distance learning. In February I came to TLC and did a printmaking workshop with Marcel – this was AMAZING – I WILL NEVER FORGET THIS EXPERIENCE.”

What would you say to someone thinking about enrolling at TLC?

“I would say that it is good!”

You can see Yaniv’s work at his website – www.y-artist.blogspot.com and also check out his book on Amazon.com.

After this article was published we received further good news from Yaniv:

The interest generated by Yaniv’s passion – raising awareness about Climate Change and sustainability issues is growing. We just heard that Yaniv has been awarded a ‘Variety – The Children’s Charity’ scholarship (his name will appear shortly on their page: http://www.variety.org.nz/variety-gold-heart-scholarship-fund-xidc25879.html). The $5000 will go towards buying materials to make the murals, public art for a new energy centre in building now and publication of the accompanying book about climate change.

This Sept Yaniv has a solo exhibition in Waikato Museum ArtsPost on the topic of “Visualising Climate Change”. Short description: “Media campaigns based on science have failed to create the massive action needed to mitigate climate change – let’s actually come face to face with the future images of our cities and landscapes!”