Lysaght Watt Gallery, Hāwera, is pleased to announce the upcoming joint exhibition On a Creative Journey featuring Sue Baker and Creative Inclusion - Celebrating Diversity a group exhibition by South Taranaki Creative Space students, 21 August – 16 November.
Sue Baker’s passion for art commenced in her early school days and on through Teacher’s College. However, it wasn’t until she moved back to Taranaki 10 years ago that she began to take it more seriously.
Sue says: ‘I joined my sister, Erryn’s evening art classes (South Taranaki Creative Space) and started to learn skills and techniques, particularly for applying paint. It is through her teaching and encouragement that I have experienced a wide range of art mediums and styles, and developed confidence in my work - thus I have taken that step to have my first exhibition’.
Sue’s main medium is painting where she likes to ‘represent nature and our connection to it’. Sue is the tutor for students in the group exhibition that will run concurrently with her own solo show.
Creative Inclusion (South Taranaki Creative Space) was established in 2021 to provide opportunities for people with disabilities and special learning needs to be involved in community learning through Art and Creativity Workshops.
There are currently 15 students who attend workshops once a week in Hāwera. A variety of different art mediums including watercolours, acrylics, printmaking, 3D/sculpture, drawing, collage and abstract art are used. The 4th term of each year is dedicated to crafts to keep or give away as Christmas gifts.
Students pay a small fee to attend, funding is provided through the South Taranaki Creative Communities Scheme and sponsorship from several local businesses.
Please come and help celebrate these students unique skills and perspective at Lysaght Watt Gallery.
Sue Baker
My passion for art started with drawing - taking a sketch pad and pencils with me when I went to different places to draw from nature. Art and Art History were subjects taken in High School, plus Art as an elective while I was doing my teacher training at Waikato University
I dabbled with colour a little bit, - pastels and water colour, but was caught up with ‘trying to get it right’. It wasn’t until I moved back to Taranaki in 2013 that I really began to delve into developing my art more. I joined my sister, Erryn’s evening art classes and started to learn skills and techniques, particularly for applying paint. It is through her teaching and encouragement that I have experienced a wide range of art mediums and styles, and developed confidence in my work - thus I have taken that step to have my first exhibition.
In 2014 I completed a Certificate in Art and Creativity through the Learning Connection, which added to my creative journey. I love colour and texture and try to demonstrate this in my work.
My main medium is painting, where I like to represent nature and our connections to it.
I also enjoy drawing with ink pens and am exploring print making.
From the opening event:
Sue Baker exhibiting in half of the gallery shows us a variety of works titled 'On a Creative Journey'. This is Sues's first exhibition and large exploration of media and subject matter.
The other half of the gallery is a group exhibition titled 'Creative Inclusion' celebrating diversity which was created by students in the South Taranaki Creative Space 'creative inclusion classes' under the guidance of Sue and Erryn Wilcox.
On a Creative Journey/Creative Inclusion-Celebrating Diversity runs from 21 August - 16 September 2023.