Artist in focus

All over New Zealand, there are artists - writers, performing artists, visual artists - doing amazing things. This section profiles some of them.

Artist shares skills with local community

27 January 2012
Wairarapa artist and art tutor Harry Watson can’t remember a time in his life when he wasn’t working at his art. View Artist shares skills with local community...

Sarah Houbolt: being bold and taking leaps

29 August 2011
Fortune favours the bold. It’s a view that underpins the creative life of Sarah Houbolt – Auckland performing artist, community arts worker and social researcher. View Sarah Houbolt: being bold and taking leaps...

Exploring perspectives on death

15 December, 2010
Wellington theatre maker and director Leo Gene Peters has been working with staff, patients and families using hospice services to create a performance piece based on their stories. View Exploring perspectives on death...

The art of integrated dance

20 September 2010
Two poignant experiences from her student days stand out in the memory of Hahna Briggs, who this year became the first person to graduate with a master of dance degree from the University of Otago. View The art of integrated dance...

Challenging the label

12 August 2010
Watching a performance by Auckland integrated dance company Touch Compass in 1998 was a life-changing experience for Suzanne Cowan. View Challenging the label...

An “honest, raw and personal” story

22 June 2010
For Auckland writer Peter Finlay, “the pain is muted now, with the help of sympathetic fellow adults. The hard days are over.” View An “honest, raw and personal” story...

Opportunity knocks for Justin Morshuis

1 July 2009
Having an exhibition gives you something to work towards and raises your profile, says Mosgiel artist Justin Morshuis. It also provides a great sense of achievement when people buy your work. View Opportunity knocks for Justin Morshuis...

International market for Robert Rapson

28 April 2009
Commissions from Australia and the United States for his distinctive ceramic ships have kept Hutt Valley artist Robert Rapson extremely busy over the past couple of months. View International market for Robert Rapson...

A bit of Vincent on the walls

17 February 2009
“My mum’s got one of your paintings on the wall,” a young visitor told Vincent Duncan during this month’s Open Studios weekend in Wellington, an event on the New Zealand Fringe Festival 2009 programme. View A bit of Vincent on the walls...

“Yeeaaah, I’m an artist”

4 December 2008
“Now when I fill out forms, I write ‘artist’ as my occupation. Every time I do it, I think ‘Yeeaaah, I’m an artist. I’m not a mental health client or a beneficiary. I’m an artist. Far out’.” View “Yeeaaah, I’m an artist”...

Picking up the positive threads

21 October 2008
Using the skills and self-discipline he learned as a prisoner, Auckland artist Bryan G. Slight is so busy these days he reckons he hardly has time to cook dinner. View Picking up the positive threads...

Memory loss and a new life

10 September 2008
Matthew Squire’s story is one of memory loss and a new life as an artist. It is, he says, as if “God has given me two lives”. View Memory loss and a new life...

When Boiski turned up

15 August 2008
When the three-legged dog gate-crashed the party, he sidled up to Tim Turner and looked into the artist’s eyes. There was, says Tim, an instant bond. View When Boiski turned up...

Stepping out from a label

3 July 2008
Ingrid Jenner sits at her diningroom window watching the birds in her garden: sparrows, wax eyes, blackbirds, thrushes, and the occasional tui or fantail. View Stepping out from a label...

The writing path

3 June 2008
When Mary Dennis tells people she's a fulltime writer, they tend to shake their heads and say, "You won't make any money from it." View The writing path...