In The Scout this week, I talk with artist Vanessa Reynolds from Newcastle, Australia. Her art is a reflection of her work as a humanitarian in Africa. I met her when she took a couple of my classes. Its
not always easy to get to know all of your students, so when she invited me to
her art exhibition I was truly disappointed that I couldn't make it. She showed me her art anyway and it is incredible. I bought one. And I'm waiting for more...
Vanessa, what are you
doing with yourself right now?
I'm currently in my last year of a Bachelor of Arts
degree in International Poverty and Development Studies, Visual Arts and
Communication.
But I'm also working with Kisaru Entito
Project. It's a garden project in Maasailand, Kenya designed to
assist the Maasai people to have healthy dietary options, to live longer and
stronger by helping them not only be self-sufficient but being able to have a
small industry to support their families. It is also about raising
awareness of issues such as HIV and AIDS.
I am working as support and help with fundraising
ideas, networking with appropriate Government Departments as well as providing
culturally sensitive insight in the setting up of a school and rescue home. I
also participate in Amnesty International local action
group. Any spare moment these days is spent painting and exploring art.
Tell me
about your art?
 |
| Future Reflection/acrylic on canvas |
There is something so exciting and
refreshing about creating art. I am inspired by things I see, life events and
my own identity. I see many parallels between life and art, both of which are
processes to be embraced and lessons to be learned. No experience in life and
no brush mark are without a purpose in the big picture. The last few years I
have been inspired by African art. I've also been working with stylized,
abstract, fauve and pop art ideas.
I enjoy working with oil and acrylic
paint, mixed media and collage. I especially love painting with a pallet knife,
as the end result can’t always be controlled, but provides interesting textures
and a decorative surface. Being a florist I am also inspired by flowers and the
beauty of nature. My art has a conceptual basis too – my recent exhibition
was based on issues of poverty, the conditions of childbirth, importance of
education and the impact of globalization for people living in developing
countries. My love for travel, culture, adventure and art now have a way to
inspire each other.
Tell me
a little about the experience in Africa that inspired these works.
After living and working in Kenya for a
year as a volunteer, my life was impacted in many ways as I began to see the
world through new eyes. I worked as an assistant girls dean at a boarding
school and took every opportunity I could to go on outreach trips to orphanages,
the Kibera slums and to deliver water to Maasai villages during the months of
drought. I came home determined not to forget things that I had experienced and
wanted to give a voice to the suffering that often goes unnoticed. My passion
for advocacy is now influencing my art. I want to provide opportunities
for voices of poverty to be heard as well as the joys and positive things that
are happening in developing countries.
 |
| Kibera Track/acrylic on canvas |
Where
have been exhibiting?
My first exhibition was held earlier this year at Ground
Up, a gallery Café in Carrington, just outside of Newcastle.
My aim is to have my art hanging in public spaces to
raise awareness of the need for protection of human rights and share the
importance of empowerment in reducing levels of poverty around the world.
What's next?
In the future I would love to be able to study art
therapy for use when working with refugees and asylum seekers. Art is a
powerful tool of expression and therapy. No matter what culture we belong to,
art is a form of communication used where verbal communication is not always a
possibility. I hope to be something
of a leader in raising awareness of human rights issues, with a passion for
being out there amongst it the action. I want to be hands-on helping those who
are underprivileged and exploited.
How can
we find your art?
 |
| Family Portrait/ acrylic and mixed media on board |
There are still some pieces hanging at Ground Up
Espresso which is at 87 Young Street, Carrington (Newcastle). Open 7am-3pm
weekdays and 8am-3pm weekends.
And I have a facebook page called Nomadic Art and a blog
- Nomadic ArtyNess.
Thanks
Vanessa - a talented artist, ready to get more than paint on her hands.
- the Scout. x
No comments:
Post a Comment