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| Farmland close to where I lived in Canada |
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| Photo: S. Rhodda for Tourism New Brunswick |
I paint in acrylics as a hobby
| "Cherry Cupcake" (detail). Acrylic on canvas. |
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| One in my popular "Food Web" Series |
Self-Employment In The Arts
I have always had an intense interest in the arts. I was born into an artistic
family; my mother was an artist, and I received my first training from her. I studied art at Christchurch Polytechnical College before entering Canterbury University
(Christchurch) to study science. While completing a PhD in Biology, I studied
art history at university for three years as a diversion from my laboratory work. Major
influences on my art and my philosophy have been the British artists Beryl Cook and Sir Stanley Spencer, satirical cartoonist
Ronald Searle, English children's comics such as Beano and Dandy, the Austrian photographer Lisette Model and the American
photographer Diane Arbus. I am deeply moved by the work of the great Russian
Expressionist Chaim Soutine and the New Zealand artist Stuart McLachlan.
I spent 18 years in Canada.
While in New Brunswick, I was able to exercise more fully my love of art. Between 1994 and 2002, while working part-time as a replacement teacher at various levels in
the school system, I earned a living by doing art and photography, including contract work for such clients as Tourism New
Brunswick. A web site search will reveal many of my photographs for that organization.
| Sussex Balloon Fiesta |
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| Photo: S. Rhodda for Tourism New Brunswick |
I also ran my own ceramics business, producing decorated slip
cast vases, bowls, platters, and tiles. These objects were painted in
underglazes and glazes, and multiple kiln fired. They became canvases for my
work. I also enjoyed sculpting in clay, painting in acrylics, and creating mixed
media constructions. This work was sold through various commercial art galleries both in New Brunswick and in
Ontario (in N.B.: Handworks Gallery, St. John, Seacoast Gallery, St. Andrews, La Difference, Moncton, Joi de Vivre, Riverside
Albert; Edgewater Gallery, Miramichi, Lynn van Tassel Gallery, St. Martins, O'Toole's Gallery, Woodstock; in Ontario: Art
On Kings, Toronto, Carlen Gallery, Ottawa, Bittersweet, Burnstown).
Since returning to New Zealand
I have only had time persue art as a hobby. Part of my art is people inspired.
I think the human condition is at once heroic, hilarious, and calamitous, and it is these idiosyncrasies that I am
interested in. I love to make burlesque commentary on our society and try to imbue my work with both a serious
and a funny side, combining the cartoon with high art. Parody is a major part
of my artistic vocabulary.
Other aspects of my art are
nature inspired and I draw on scenic images to express my sense of place.
As well as photography, acrylics, and ceramics, I have dabled in water colours after studying with
Susanne Hansen of Woodstock New Brunswick. I have done a number of commissioned
pieces in various media.
| Penelope Celebrates |
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| Photo: S. Rhodda |
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Christchurch
1974-1976 Play Center Committee Member and Center delegate.
1975-1986 Friends of the Canterbury Museum
1975-1986 Canterbury Society of Arts
1984-1986 Friend of the Robert McDougall Art Gallery
1978-1981 Beckenham
Amateur Swimming Club committee.
1980 B.A.S.C.
Treasurer.
1979-1980 Canterbury Center,
New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association, delegate.
1985
Parent-Teachers Association Committee member.
British Columbia:
1987-1990 Vancouver Art Gallery
1989-1990 Vancouver Museum Association
1989-1990 Burnaby Multicultural Society
1988-1991 Vancouver Women's Chorus.
New Brunswick:
2003- Florenceville Multicultural
Association
1990-2000 Member, Beaverbrook Art Gallery, Fredericton
1993-05 Skiff Lk Cottage Owners Association
2000-05 Nackawic Folk Circle
2004-05 Canterbury Music Circle
2003-05Member,Board of Directors sub-committee on membership and donations, The
Beaverbrook Art Gallery, Fredericton
2004-05 Representative on the Working Committee for the Improvement of the Municipality
of Florenceville, a council initiative.
3D mural I created for the childrens room in a local library in New Brunswick.
| Eggs Of Swainson's Thrush |
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| Photo: S. Rhodda |
INTERESTS:
-biology and nature, especially insects, birds, mushrooms, seashore life, native
flora and fauna
-organic gardening and agriculture
-environmental issues
-food and nutrition
| Fiddlehead Quiche |
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| Setup and photo: S. Rhodda for Tourism New Brunswick |
-international cuisine
-the visual arts and art history
-history, particularly social history
-music
-education; belief that learning is for life
-multicultural issues
-literature and reading in a wide range of subjects
-hiking, swimming, aerobics
| Canoing close to my home. |
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| Photo: S. Rhodda for Tourism New Brunswick |
| Lighthouses abound in Atlantic Canada |
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| Photo: S. Rhodda for Tourism New Brunswick |
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