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Mapura Studios

  • Benefits of Art Classes like leading a Creative Life

      15 October 2019
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    Students like Lorraine are helped immensely by Art Classes at Māpura Studios.

    Lorraine attends the Leading A Creative Life course, on Thursday mornings, which provides a supportive, instructive and stimulating environment for people living with stroke-affect (or similar disability), to develop a strong visual arts practice. Tutors provide ongoing input regarding methodologies, techniques, media and guidance re subject matter so artists are supported in the ongoing progression of their art making capabilities and knowledge base.

    Lorraine Rchardson, Cup of Tea Anyone, 2019

    Lorraine Rchardson, Cup of Tea Anyone, 2019

    Lorraine enjoys creating abstract art works and is inspired by Fullham pottery: “I like abstract images. I doodle at home and I get inspiration from the abstract. I have a family connection to Fullham pottery and that inspires some of my work. Dalton was an apprentice at Fullham. I feel spiritually receptive. That is an element in my making work.”

    "(At Mapura) I am finding Lorraine again. Before I was a mum and a wife and you didn’t have time for myself”

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  • In Memory of Tui Parr

      24 March 2016
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    A celebration of Tui Parr's life will be held at the Chapel of Christ the King, Selwyn Village, Point Chevalier on Tuesday, 29 March at 2 pm. In lieu of flowers, Tui's family have asked for donations to support Mapura Studios, as "Tui's art mornings were the highlight of her week for the past three years." We would like to offer our sincere condolences to Tui's family and our immense gratitude for thinking of us at this time.

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  • Spark Artist Profile - Pearl Schomburg

      18 March 2014

    Pearl Schomburg has been attending Spark Centre for about 5 years, and discovered this wonderful place through her local newspaper. Pearl sees art making as very therapeutic and found that Spark was a place she could effectively deal with life challenges. Pearlfs life had become very narrow and quite lonely due to health challenges and it was very hard to be positive about the?future. Her counsellor had suggested Art Therapy as the next possible?step in her healing process. After visiting and talking with the tutors at?Spark,?Pearl decided it was the perfect place to explore her creativity as a tool on her journey towards wellbeing. Once a week Pearl is now amongst wonderful inspiring people and has experienced some great moments of personal achievement. Pearl believes that creativity has a positive and powerful healing effect on the mind and the?body.? Sometimes her paintings are just about enjoying 'paint' and trying to?focus?on something other than my current pain and frustration. Other times they?contain symbols and?expressions that are heartfelt ramblings?that?Pearl deals with through her art making. Pearl studied as a Ritual Maker and Celebrant through AUT, and crosses appear as a common theme throughout her art work. She also sees spirituality as an important part in her creative process. The opportunity to be of?service?to others in Pearlfs class?presents itself frequently and she really enjoys being?able to help. gI believe Spark provides a wonderful supportive environment that assists each student to reach their full potential.h Pearl is looking forward to producing more art this year. For information on Spark Centre programmes please phone 09 845 5361 or email donna@sparkcentre.org.nz

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  • CREATIVE COMMUNICATIONS AT SPARK CENTRE

      14 March 2014

    Rachel Coppage is a Deaf Art Therapist who, last year, joined the Spark Centre tutor team. Rachel graduated from Goldsmiths College, University of London with a Masters in Art Psychotherapy. Born deaf and brought up orally in England, Rachel at an early age identified the benefits of art making as therapeutic and an effective form of self expression. Rachel tutors on the Tuesday and Thursday afternoon Open Studio programmes, here at Spark, along with a qualified New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) interpreter. Sharing the same cultural and linguistic values (Deaf identity), Rachel provides valuable support to our Deaf artists with direct communication in sign language. NZSL is one of three official languages in New Zealand and being able to communicate with Deaf artists in sign language and participating in class discussion with other artists with the interpreter provides full accessibility to communication at Spark. Spark Centre has gratefully received funding from the National Foundation for the Deaf, the Deaf Development Fund (JR McKenzie Trust) and Creative Communities to provide eCreative Communicationsf, an integrative, group learning programme in visual art where tutorfs and facilitatorfs are Deaf and hearing. Rachel will be the Deaf art tutor on this programme along with hearing art tutor, Sarah Hughes. For more information on eCreative Communicationsf please contact Donna Jaser at Spark, ph 09 845 5361

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  • Renovations Are Greatly Appreciated

      13 March 2014

    Spark Centre has been transformed thanks to wonderful new upgrades which have been made to the Centre by our landlords and neighbours, the Auckland Irish Society. Students came back from the holiday break to a new look studio. Spark Centre now has industrial quality vinyl flooring, a new wash-up area, new toilets and kitchen! Spark Centre Director, Suzanne Vesty said , gWe sincerely thank the Irish Society for their renovations. They have transformed our studio and we are very grateful for their generosityh. The generosity of our Spark Centre Friends has meant the Centre was able to purchase and contribute a dishwasher for the kitchen and sinks for the wash up area to the upgrade. These wonderful new upgrades will soon be complimented by some stunning new art work created by Spark Centre artists. Keep an eye on those walls.

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  • Renovations Are Greatly Appreciated

      13 March 2014

    Spark Centre has been transformed thanks to wonderful new upgrades which have been made to the Centre by our landlords and neighbours, the Auckland Irish Society. Students came back from the holiday break to a new look studio. Spark Centre now has industrial quality vinyl flooring, a new wash-up area, new toilets and kitchen! Spark Centre Director, Suzanne Vesty said , gWe sincerely thank the Irish Society for their renovations. They have transformed our studio and we are very grateful for their generosityh. The generosity of our Spark Centre Friends has meant the Centre was able to purchase and contribute a dishwasher for the kitchen and sinks for the wash up area to the upgrade. These wonderful new upgrades will soon be complimented by some stunning new art work created by Spark Centre artists. Keep an eye on those walls.

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  • Update for 31/08/2011

      31 August 2011

    Spark Studio is in the process of becoming Spark Centre of Creative Development.

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  • Update for 04/05/2011

      4 May 2011

    We currently run 6 classes a week for around 80 students. The classes range from printmaking, figure drawing, professional practice to open studio sessions. These programmes have originated from research pilot projects carried out by Spark Studio in 2007 - 2009, funded by the Tertiary Education Commission. Spark Studio is now a creative space offering innovative art programmes for people of all abilities, with particular care given to ensuring those with diverse needs are provided for Our current programmes include: Printing off the Wall: This is the fourth year Spark Studio has offered a printmaking programme; this year students are learning techniques and processes of observational drawing, printmaking, and screen printing through exploring subject matter of personal interest, and developing a personal iconography and style. They are creating potentially saleable items such as handmade cards, mounted prints and silk screened cushion covers. From term 2 artists will progress from individual to collaborative works, examining common and individual themes and ideas, and a final collaborative installation of the work is planned for later in the year. Professional Practice: Students work towards individual goals such as collating a body of work for solo or group exhibition, moving on to further education with mainstream providers or creating small publications. Tutors will assist students to develop CVs and portfolios and to write artist statements about their work. Figures in Place: A pilot programme which will further develop the knowledgebase and technical skills of artists in drawing and painting the human figure with an emphasis on the placement of the figure in the landscape / environment, incorporating other aspects such as still life, objects and symbols or personal icons. Individual interpretation and personal expression will inform the content of the work. Open Studio: Where an open, organic approach to learning is held. Tutors move amongst artists, coming alongside and assisting them by suggesting ideas, demonstrating techniques - encouraging them to try out new and different ideas and mediums, sometimes exposing them where appropriate to artist models or other references. The tutors regularly take the lead from the artist, encouraging them to be self directed where possible.

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  • Update for 23/06/2009

      23 June 2009

    Spark Studio, a creative space for adult artists with disabilities has just released a publication titled A Vital Practice. This inspiring publication provides a documentation and outline of the orientation of practice and philosophies that underpin our projects and wider studio work implemented through a series of projects funded by the Tertiary Education Commission. The projects provide an innovative and unique blend of visual arts learning and creative expression; integrating art making methodologies with person centred self development processes. This book presents and celebrates the experience and works of our students in their art making process. It features many of the artworks created throughout the programmes, and artist statements which authentically record each personfs experience. For instance, this by Spark Studio artist John Puhara: eMy art is my life. No art ? I got no future. No art ? what am I gonna do for the rest of my life? Art is my future. I like doing different things ? I like doing something more challenging ? I like a challenge ? every day is a challenge. No art ? no life. All my study is here everyday. Itfs a challenging thing ? Ifm ready for it. I like the opportunities I got. I like art so much ? I want to keep going the rest of my bloody life. Amen.f The service Spark Studio provides to the disabled community is both unique and essential, however, due to a restructure within the TEC (where funding will no longer be available to us) and the current economic climate, we are facing a financial crisis. For us to keep providing opportunities to artists like John Puhara we urgently need funds to sustain us through the coming 12 months. We need your support to keep our valuable service going and are offering a copy of this beautiful book in return for a $30 (or more!) donation (plus $5.00 p & p). For more information, please contact Josie Maskell at Spark Studio on 09 845 5361, or email josie@sparkstudio.org.nz to find out how to make a donation and order a copy.

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