Well hey there 2023, you’re almost done and it’s time to reflect and see what I squeezed in. From mural painting, workshops, collaborations and so much more. Here is just a few highlights that made my heart sing.
School Residencies:
Year 9’s from Wilderness School learning how to tag.
This year I had the absolute pleasure of spending extended time at Wilderness School as their year-long artist in residence. I visited every class from Reception (prep) to Year 12 to run workshops and share my artist journey. We installed three murals in the Coorong with their Year 9 camp program, plus they invited me to speak at their end of year exhibition.
Year 12 exhibition opening for Wilderness School students.
The best part of this whole experience was getting to know the art staff and students of this thriving department. Creativity and skill development is building a strong foundation and I have walked away totally impressed by their passion and dedication. Brooke Porter, Candace Gwyther, Kari Doyle, Lindy Neilson, Mia Parkin and many more staff were fabulous to work with. I can’t thank them enough.
Geelong Baptist School Mural Installation.
Plus, I squeezed in a number of mini school residencies, including Valley Oaks Charter School, Rosary School, Parafield Gardens Primary School, Mary MacKillop College, Geelong Baptist College, Findon High School, Cardijn College, Thomas More College, Emmaus Christian College and Immanuel College.
It is such an honour to meet incredible educators with the same passion for the Arts and spend the day creating. I’m so grateful for the unique experience of visiting your schools, seeing what you are doing with your students and getting to have fun painting together.
Immanuel College Stobie Pole Project.
Arts Education:
Melbourne trip!
It was an incredible experience being able to speak at the Nation Education Conference in Melbourne this year. I talked about creative wellbeing and the importance of risk taking, experimentation and making mistakes.
This has got to be my favourite topics to discuss and getting to present to a room of principals and leaders from around the country was freaking scary and thrilling.
I was also given the opportunity to do a semester of tutoring at Flinders University for Visual Art, third year primary education students. I have loved being back in the art classroom (I really didn’t realise how much I missed it!). I was literally bouncing of the walls with excitement talking about authentic art curriculum. And an added bonus of having FUMA gallery on campus, which made excursions easy!
Sunrise Christian School ELC Mural Installation.
Mural Painting:
So many highlights for painting this year, where do I start? I loved painting back at Sunrise Christian School in Whyalla at the start of the year. And dong my first ever mural for my personal council area, was a thrill! Thanks to City of Port Adelaide Enfield Council for the Kilburn addition. I get to drive past this one every day for the school drop off.
Kilburn Mural Installation for City of Port Adelaide and Enfield Council.
In September I had the privilege of painting a collaboration with the legendary Jack Fran for Prospect Art Walk. Golly, I can’t even put into words how great this experience was for me.
Jack, has been an art friend for years and we’ve crossed paths many times, exhibiting together and painting near by. But he’s career has skyrocketed in the time I’ve known him and I’m just so damn grateful how down to earth and generous he is with sharing his knowledge.
I learnt so much from him through this project and also loved coming up with a design that cuts between his style and mine. Thank you Justin Sheining for setting this project up and for allowing us to pressure you into doing your first tag!
Prospect Art Walk Installation with Jack Fran.
Gallery Installer:
This year I’ve had another steep learning curve, one that involved an uncomfortable amount of maths. (Ed James from City of Prospect, really should have given me a math test before offering me this gig!) I’ve being working once a month at Newmarch gallery installing exhibitions.
From the pack up, wrapping artwork, patching and painting walls, working with artists, learning to drill into brick, setting up exhibitions and more. My mind is spinning with how much I’ve learnt this year. I have to thank Ed for having patience with me and not laughing at me when I pull out my calculator to divide 240 by 2. And a enormous thank you to Julian Tremayne who has shared his expertise, tools and knowledge with me this year. Julian is a craftsman installer, it’s niche and so very magical to watch in action.
The Advertiser
Had a heart attack when Poh posted this on socials!
I also was incredibly excited to install Poh’s exhibition, The Girl for Illuminate Adelaide. It was a pinch me moment being able to work closely with Poh Ling Yeow, Sam Wright and Charissa Davies. Pretty special to get photo with Charissa and I in the paper that weekend at the opening.
Poh’s work is stunning but so is she! Her joy and kindness shines through everything she makes.
Guest Speaker:
Enjoying Alana Naylor’s exhibition with Avylon Magarey, Lydia Adams and Tali de Lacy.
Alana Naylor asked me to officially open her exhibition this year and with butterflies in my stomach I said “YES!”. Which has been the start of a very deep and personal connection… haha! Well the butterflies were because I get nervous with public speaking.
But it really has been fun getting to know Alana this year. She’s the 2022 Fringe Poster winner, a talented graphic designer and to top it off we had endless things in common, working in creative industries. I always love working with the wonderful, Grace Coy too, and she was the producer of Alana’s show.
Alana Naylor learning to spray paint with me.
I helped Alana learn the basics of spray painting and she helped me create my new branding, which is epic! Thank you so much Alana. xx
Me, Jessie Feitosa and Lena Baumagartner at their exhibition opening for SALA.
I opened Jessie Feitosa and Lena Baumagartner in August for SALA. And wow, what a show. Have you checked out their paintings yet?
I am truely in love with everything these ladies paint.
And every time we catch up, the time is always too short! My new arty BFFs! xx
Star student and close friend, Chloe Horsted learning to wheel throw in one of my classes at Urth Clay Studios.
There was so much more in 2023, I can’t fit it all in this blog post. I’m sure no one is still reading!
But I will just mention, I loved painting Stobie Poles, photo shoots with Kate Dyer (Urban Safari), running ceramic workshops at Urth Clay Studios, live painting at for the Prospect Spring Fair and Summer Garden Party, having my ceramics in the Art on the Parade exhibition and running the SALA Street Art Tours and being interviewed on ABC Adelaide radio, (listen here).
And what made them all so good, was the people I got to work with.
I do love creating but it’s the experience of meeting other people and seeing their response is what makes it special.
Working with Carly Didcot (City of Tea Tree Gully) to paint a fence at Civic Park.
Big THANK YOU to so many fabulous council workers who I have worked closely with this year including, Ed James (City of Prospect), Levineke Renner (City of Prospect), Mark Crabtree (previously City of Prospect), Justin Sheining (City of Prospect), Carly Didcote (City of Tea Tree Gully), Niki Vouis (City of Tea Tree Gully), Jason Hann (City of Port Adelaide and Enfield), Emma Comley (City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters), Carly Snoswell (City of Onkaparinga) and Di Caught (City of West Torrens) - you guys are seriously amazing at what you do. And you made each project so smooth and fun to be part of.
I’d also like to thank my family. Each of you support me and my creative ventures in more ways than I can ever describe. They are my biggest critics (specifically my kids!) and Aiden is my steady advisor when the imposter in me sets in and I’m in doubt mode.
Thank you for being there for me when I was at my lowest this year. xx
The Grant Family with Santa 2023
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and I can’t wait to see what 2024 holds. Let’s just promise one thing, we make it a creative one.