Amanda has always been drawn to the principles of ‘wabi-sabi’,

This is a traditional Japanese aesthetic that embraces the beauty of the imperfect,

Irregular and incomplete, giving reverence to the everyday life.

It looks to nature and the natural cycle of growth decay and death.

Celebrating that time bears the authentic patina of use in the every day.

Reflecting the spirit of the maker’s hand and heart.

BIO

Amanda was born in 1969 in Christchurch ‘Otautahi’ in Aotearoa.

She has lived in both the North and south Island’s but has found her home back in her birthplace ‘wahi’ were she currently lives post earthquake.

Amanda has 2 Adult Children; Sophia aged 27 and Simeon 29. She also has two gorgeous cats, ‘Camilla’ who is an exotic short haired Persian and ‘Tahi’ who is long haired.

Amanda currently teaching drawing, printmaking and pottery classes in Christchurch. You can book through the contact pages.

Amanda is currently doing private person centered counselling, it can be contact through contact pages. 

Also, Amanda is currently moving into art therapy sessions.

 

EXHIBITIONS – ART HISTORY

• 2002. Scaled down 10-28^th September Lane Gallery. 120 Connell st. Auckland

• Recent Works 5-30^th November Studio Works 809  Columbo st. Christchurch

• Launched clothing label in September at “Flame” at Cashel Mall

• 3 month contract at “Untouched World”  Rodyvale Avenue Christchurch,  as a textile designer.

 

2003. Angel fund borrower’s expo. Cloisters gallery north Quad Arts Centre Christchurch. 5-9 May.

• Asked to speak to audience about my art practice.

• Regional 1^st Equal “Intimate” Award winner H2go. At Modus Operandi. Fashion design awards.NZ

• Article in The Press C.6 Section Thursday 17^th July showing my “Award Winning delight”

• 2003-6-  Amanda owned a small business, ‘Quadrata’ for 3 years in High St Christchurch.

• AMANDA’S mission statement was to ‘Support Emerging Designers and Artists’.

• Quadrata was also reviewed in ‘The Press’ ‘Family Values’ recommended by Fiona McDonald, (singer-song writer) C10 Section.

Vicky goes browsing in High st.

• ‘……..and way way down in lower High st, Quadrata offers a tiny slice of the action, even if it’s more off beat than street…….’

• Exhibition of works by Amy Hoedemakers, Alannah Brown and myself. 23^rd-25^th Oct.

• ‘Studio Works’. 809 Columbo st. Christchurch

• Canterbury embroiderer’s guild. O gallery at Museum. 1^st-12^th October. Arts centre.

• Asked to be guest exhibitor and to officially open the exhibition.

• Interview at ‘plans f.m’ will be aired on the 4^th of Oct. ‘women’s show’ promoting ‘Quadrata’ and reviewing exhibition at studio works.

• Medbury school art exhibition 29^th of Oct. Exhibition sold over $70,000 worth of art.

• Exhibited at ‘Art Smart’ Group show with Galena Kim, Patterson Parkin and myself. October.

 

2004. Exhibited at Elim Church. ‘Then they came to elim…’ 4^th April. Cashel st. Christchurch.

• Exhibited at The Powerhouse Café.  Easter. 8 Jacks rd, Hamner Springs.

• Collaborated with Rebeccah Kellaher, hair stylist from Rueben Blades. Hairdressing comps. Grand Chancellor Hotel. Sunday 4^th July.

• Used hair mounds concept from 4^th year at art school. Hair sculptures on the body and head. Also made costume.

• ‘Hokonui Fashion Awards’.  Finalist in ‘John Money Wing Art Award’ 31^st July. Designers mentioned in The Press, C7 Section, Thursday 29^th July.

• Quadrata’  reviewed in ‘The Press’  ‘Family Values’ recommended by Fiona McDonald, (singer-song writer)  C10 Section, Thursday 19^th August.

• Article  ‘Limited Edition’ by Mary Kirk-Anderson. ‘The Press’ C11 Section. (fashion) 25^th November.

• Reviewed my art practice- clothing design within context of my retail space ‘Quadrata’.

• Exhibited in ‘The Great Art Auction’ Sunday 12^th December.  Fund raising for the Green Party.

 

2005. Exhibited with ‘The Family Help Trust’ breaking the cycle for New Zealand children. Annual fund raising exhibition at Riccarton Park. Saturday 19^th

• Our Lady Star of the Sea School

• Working Artist Studio Tour and Auction’ Sunday 4^th September.

• Exhibited at ‘Quattro’, 285 Cashel st.

• Homage to Quattuor-Quattro Aka.Crux Quadrata, the cross of Calvary’.  14^th November.

2006. Exhibited at Onoka School, fundraiser. 3^rd and 4^th Jackson rd, Onoka.

• Family Help Trust ‘Real heart for children’ fund raising exhibition. 12^th November. St Margaret’s collage.  Fund raised $16,000.

 

2007. Group show ‘123’ with Alannah Brown and Inge Doesburg. 2^nd-23^rd May.  Studio Works. 809 Columbo st.

• Completed ‘Business Skills Training’ One week course at Small Business Enterprise Centre. Hereford st.

• With Averil O’Hara showed girls in the Salon and Portfolio class, how to walk and carry themselves and showed them my work, to help inspire them towards their own fashion show at Academy NZ, October.

• Made wedding dress for girlfriend.  29^th December.

 

2005-2007.  Assisted Averil O’Hara (local artist and clothing designer) with her designs at fashion shows and L’Oreal Hair comps- mainly helping with dressing and make up.

2008. 21^stJune-16^th July. Group exhibition “Hanging by a thread” Little River Gallery.

• 29^th October. Cutting edge Charity show. Cashmere Club.

• Fundraising for a  friend wanting to go to missionary school in 2009. Raised $500.

• 7-8^th November. Exhibited work in ‘Art@Onoka’  fundraising exhibition.

2009. Everything Vintage Market. April 4^th.

2009-2010. Designing and making clothes from home for clients.

• Amanda completed a ‘Business Skills Training’ at Small Business Enterprise Centre. Christchurch.

2011. Assistant Artistic Photographer for private photographer, branding and design work, consisting of digital album design work.

2015. Amanda started to re-establish her Printmaking Practice post- Christchurch earthquakes working from X’chc collective art space and then ‘Studio 380’.

• Amanda resumed her Art Practice in a post quake environment.

 

2015-2017.  Tutoring ‘ Beginner’s Pottery’ at Risingholme Community Centre.

 

2016-2018.   Tutoring part- time ‘Drawing’ and ‘Printmaking’ at Risingholme Adult Community Centre.

• Holding ‘ Beginner’s Pottery’ workshops at a local cafe in Addington.  ‘The Stolen Bagel’.

• Showed art work at the recent ‘Arts Centre Markets’.  2018.

• Set up Wedding banquet for friends at YMCA. October 2018.

Amanda is currently creating a new body of work to exhibit in 2019 at the Buddhist temple in Riccarton road, Christchurch.

COUNSELLING EXPERIENCE

Pre-study years with ‘Vision College’ Amanda volunteered at 0800Hungry Christchurch delivering food parcels.

This lead into new areas of personal discovery and study.

2010-12.  Studied ‘Diploma Counselling’ Level 6.  Vision College. Christchurch.

2011. Contract with CCS Disability doing Art Therapy with a Refugee.

2013-14. Volunteered as a trained counsellor at Rata Counselling Agency.

Agency closed in October 2014 after 33 years work in the community. Amanda worked with a wide range of client issues within this agency for example. Depression, Grief,  Self esteem, PTSD and relationship issues.

2014- 15. Support worker at Stepping Stones trust, working in Crisis Ward and Medication Runs.

Amanda worked with comprehensive mental health issues which usually stemmed from family of origin and core abuse.

Issues involve clients with Borderline personality disorders, Bipolar, Schizophrenia Suicidal tendacies Self harming Adjustment disorders.  Amanda feels confident working in this area.

2015. Currently Amanda see’s private clients as a person-centred counsellor and moving towards working in creative modalities alongside person- centred practices.

Amanda feels that her own history has enabled her to sit with other peoples varied life stories often of huge magnitudes, sitting with compassion to hear and sit alongside their journey to recovery.