Biography
Suzanne has over 40 years of experience as an experiential educator, transpersonal therapist, and spiritual guide. The making of art has always been foundational in her life.
She is a practicing artist and over the years has exhibited her work in a variety of contexts. She was the Founding Director of Wings, a centre in creativity-centred human development (1988 - 2008), and Director of Spark Studio, a visual art studio offering educational and therapeutic art programmes for people living with diverse abilities (2007 – 2015).
Throughout her professional career, she has delivered many innovative programmes within a wide range of community contexts, including an extensive programme of retreats and private consultation based on the transpersonal creative process.
Her academic studies further consolidated her experiential learning. She was a Registered Celebrant for 26 years, developing a deep knowledge of inclusive, spiritual, and humanist rituals, and a Registered Art Therapist.
She has long been a student and teacher of the ancient wisdoms and creativity-centred philosophies. Metaphysical reality has always been central in her life, as has been the process of expression through the creative and dramatic arts. This combined experience informs all her work.
Qualifications
Grad. Dip in Teaching (Secondary), University of Auckland
2006
Master of Fine Art: RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia
2003-04
Master of Applied Science - Social Ecology (Cultural Action) with Distinction, University of Western Sydney, Australia
2001-02
Master of Science in Esotericism - Creative Manifestation, University of Seven Rays (USA) This involved substantial theoretical and experiential study. Dissertation culminated in major body of paintings titled The Way of the Mother which were part of a collective exhibition, Heart Offerings held at the Bruce Mason Theatre.
1998-99
Diploma in Drama, University of Auckland
In the early years trained extensively in psychodrama, sociodrama, role training, improvisational drama (Drama Action Centre, Sydney), and was a Founding member in Auckland Playback Theatre.
1979
Solo Exhibitions
Doxophony, Northart, Northcote, Auckland
2018
Sophia’s Eden, PPg, Grey Lynn, Auckland
2005
Spirit Seeds, Kingsland Central Showroom, Auckland
2001
Of Earth & Essence, French Art Shop Gallery, Auckland
1994
Group Exhibitions
East 2020, Hastings City Art Gallery, Hawkes Bay
2020
2020
CANdid-50, Creative Arts Napier, Hawkes Bay
2018
Four Painters, Northart, Northcote, Auckland (February)
Membership Exhibition, Northart, Northcote, Auckland
2016
Recent Works, Northart, Northcote, Auckland
2014
Affinity, Fine Line Gallery, Matakana, Auckland
2009
Off the Wall, Fine Line Gallery, Matakana, Auckland
2008
Post Graduate Exhibition, RMIT University, Melbourne
2004
Apart Together - NZ RMIT MFA Candidates, RMIT University, Melbourne
2004
Auckland Society Arts
2002
2001
Woodhouse Hill Gallery, Wellington
Chiaroscuro’s Summer Hanging, Chiaroscuro Gallery, Auckland
2000
2000
1999
Woodhouse Hill Gallery, Wellington
Heart Offerings, Bruce Mason Theatre, Auckland
Artist Statement
Since childhood the making of art has been an absorbing, compelling activity. Creativity is the essence of who I am – it defines my place in the world, and motivates all that I do. The creative process draws me into a silence, an intentful, aligned place, where I intuitively seek to access and give shape to my interior perceptions and experience of life, to articulate visually, images and ideas that emerge from the unconscious, and the world of Spirit. Woven within all this and integral to my art making, has been my personal journey, the events and context in which I live in its circumstance and emotional journeying informing and impassioning my work; life itself has been an inspiring force, tempering and shaping the person I am today.
For me the making process is an active form of meditation, the exploration and contemplation of life through the fluid vehicle of paint and drawing materials fundamental to my sense of wellbeing and purpose. I work spontaneously, sensory and sentient intelligence informing and shaping the work. A dynamic dance takes place. A tension exists between seeking to relay intuited, deeply subjective ideas whilst holding discernment in regard the multitude of decisions that arise within the elements of painting.
Making art in this way has me connect with deep feeling and states within the unconscious experience, the growing awareness promoting intent and direction in the crafting of the work; spontaneous gesture and mark-making providing an immediate, expressive visual language. Working intuitively, images, colour and movement present as ‘impressions’ within my mind. The making process integrates this complex, layered information. As the images resolve they offer meaning and insight both to the inner world, and to the world in which we live.
I have breathed and held in my heart and mind every element of my lived-experience, this has grown my conscious self, this sacred journey in creative practice providing a gritty, sublime process of revelation to who I really am – who each of us truly are, in this passage towards our unfolding.
Suzanne