There Is No Such Place as Away
Back in the early 90s, I worked at the landfill in Horotiu as a gardener planting and tending natives and roses in a beautifying project. Truckload after truckload of rubbish would rumble past in a flurry of dust on its way to a hole in the ground as I weeded, pruned and nurtured the gardens. (There is no such place as away.)
Fast forward to 2007, where I got a much wanted part-time job at the transfer station or the ‘pit’, as it was called, rescuing items before they got swept into the crusher.
Oh, the things I saved! At the same time, I was doing a year-long course on Art therapy at Waikato University, as well as restoring our 1920s railway house, repairing and painting it.
These three aspects sort of combined as I found offcuts, and random things to paint on, and was the beginning of my unique style.
My partner Marti Wong was already becoming an established artist using recycled metal and we had many exhibitions together, but it wasn’t until we came to Thames that I began to take my art more seriously.
Two months after shifting, I got talked into having a show with a friend. I had a month to paint and with a short deadline and the inspiration of our new seaside home I got to work. This was a success and ‘firmed’ in my art style.
Directly after this, I broke my arm badly.
With nothing else to do I sat on my front porch, wrote a book I had talked about (but never had time for) and thought about new art projects.
I got the itch to create again once my arm was back in use and it was then I had the idea of starting an art co-op here in Thames.
After many conversations with Marti and Eben (the building owner), the Vessel co-op was born.
My art is quirky, and sometimes deep but with a sense of humour. It has a slightly magical aspect to it, with things in and on bottles or teacups or on edges of old paint that look like the shore line. I take photos of all my images and am always keeping my eye out for new characters.
The backgrounds are as important as the picture and I am on the lookout for things to paint on wherever I go. Matching an image with a background piece is a big part of the magic of the story I am trying to tell, and getting it right can be tricky.
I have a serious interest in old used things, anything that has had a previous life and story, I’m very sentimental. The tea cups I paint are ones I found and gave to my nana years ago, many chats were had over those cups! The titles are important and are a big part of the ‘message’ I want to convey. A lot of thought goes into it.
The girl is my daughter, but in my art she represents the feminine – she is usually hidden, either turning away or with a hat covering her face. This is the mystery of both the feminine and the journey we call life.
She often has a companion (we aren’t really alone), birds feature heavily, and wide open spaces. Both of these I attribute to the influence of the Firth here in Thames.
I have a cute railway hut with a red curved roof as my studio, this is inspirational all by itself and I am in there most days. It was a wreck when I got it, with rot both inside and out, but I knew it would be the perfect space for both my art and Tarot card readings.
Life for me is based around the core energy of creativity, it is essential. I get satisfaction and joy from the work I do; it hasn’t been easy, it takes courage. Each time I sell an artwork, I get a tinge of sadness (they are a piece of me) followed by a quiet validation. Someone else gets it.
The Vessel has literally been the vessel for bringing my art to the world. It has been a place of connection and community and it’s the only place I stock – I can only make so much art!
I need an open mind and inventive spirit as I come up with new ideas, and as I rely on recycled materials, I never really know what will be next. It’s not as easy as buying a canvas, I have to find the item, then clean, fix, and prepare the surface ready for use, which all takes time. Perhaps though, this is why I love the fun, freedom and randomness of being an artist. It is worth it.
Vessel Art Co-op Grahamstown Thames
Words by Kathryn Engebretsen
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