Ōtautahi Studios

In episode I have an in-depth kōrero with the brilliant Kim Lowe. We learn about her introduction to art at primary school and although she tried other avenues her calling to the Arts led her pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dunedin. After further study at UC and years of teaching, Kim is now embarking on a PhD investigating her artistic path through study, practice, and the intuition of the creative mind. We also learn that the English cottage garden is in fact a multicultural affair.

Liz shares her admiration for Werner Herzog's work in film and writing and gives us some recommendations on the subject.This was part of our kōrero from episode 28 that I thought was too good not to include, Enjoy!

"In this episode I have an interesting kōrero with the fabulous Liz Boldt from Linwood Arts. This gallery has a strong heart beat, it facilitates more opportunities to engage in creativity than most galleries. Through exhibitions, art classes, workshops, volunteer opportunities this space enables the community to explore art in many different ways and all of them are accessible to the public. This is art for the people brought to us in a thoughtful and considered manifestation."

In Episode 27 I have a kōrero with Ri Williamson about travel, art and visiting galleries. We reminisce about our recent trip to Sweden visiting family and our week in Stockholm with Picasso, Surrealist Art and Nordic living in the past. This episode is trying a different approach to the show and talking about art in a conventional manner. We get a book tip and a great tip from Ri.

In this episode I take the opportunity to reflect on the year that has been and give some insight into what is coming in 2026. I have dedicated this Episode to my Mother in law, Maree, who unexpectedly passed away very early in the new year. I share a book recommendation and a creative tip, something that resonated with me while travelling. In the second part of this episode I have a little kōrero with Sölvesborg local and creative extraordinaire Arsi Hakala about all things creative, enjoy!

"In this first episode of 2026 whilst visiting family in Stockholm I catch up with my aunt Ingela who has had a fascinating career in illustration, working 14 years for Swedens largest newspaper DN as well as embarking on a freelance career in her early 40’s. Ingela’s work spans widely from drawing advertisements to insect encyclopaedia illustrations to Japanese patterns. It was so lovely to have the opportunity to have this in depth kōrero with Ingela and a great way to start the show for 2026"

" I have a fascinating kōrero with multidisciplinary artist Ina Johann. Johann who is originally from Germany discovered Aotearoa on a geological study trip whilst at university, fell in love with the land and came back to settle here in 1997. She works in a variety of different media from print and drawing to video, digital stills, photography and light to create multi-dimensional installations. An inspiring conversation about how life happens to us, something Johann explores in her practice. "

In this episode I have an uplifting kōrero with the great people from the white room, an organisation which lies close to my heart. They are a charity and creative studio space for people with learning disabilities and other under-served community members. I speak to the co-leaders Blaire Rosie-Forrester and Simon Gray and to engagement and marketing aficionado Briedi Mc Crostie. They run the white room in collaboration with many art facilitators. I also kōrero with Leanna Brown, Jager Sowman and Kerry Poff, three of the White Room Artists that share their current work in progress and personal insight into the creation of art.The White Room is located on the Climate Action Campus and provide space, materials and guidance for Art practice and whilst most of the Artist come through the mother organisation Skill Wize the white room has opened up bookings for the wider community to be able to participate and create in the studio.The White Room has also just opened the doors to 'the shed' which is located in the Richmond Community Garden. This will provide a space for the Artists to exhibit their work, hold work shops and other community oriented events.Enjoy :)

A bonus Episode where Tim Middleton shares his creative tips and a very cool list of book recommendations.

In this episode I have a long overdue kōrero with Tim Middleton. We speak about the eclectic crowd on high street before gentrification and earthquakes, about hospitality and the importance of the artist meeting spot. Tim talks about his art practice, which entails casting discarded objects, drawing and printing. About surfing which has become his ‘new’ addiction and how being a sober artist is quite the super power. He shares the exciting news that he is new proprietor of Chambers Gallery 2026

In this episode I have a fascinating and inspiring kōrero with New Orleans born Visual Artist Charrette Van Eekelen. Charrette who grew up in a creative household in a big house in uptown New York. She has had a steady path to her creative practice , from early immersion into the world of arts through her parents to art school in Vermont, practicing painting whilst living in different parts of America and then a move to Aotearoa where she completed her MFA at Canterbury University.

The second part of my two episode series with Gina Russell and Seonaid Burnie. I kōrero with Gina about her childhood surrounded by textile craft, how she embarked on her mission of bringing back the growing of textiles to Aotearoa. She speaks of her love for old looms and how she is envisioning a future where we come together and learn and create together in the community and grow the seed of a sustainable textile industry here in Aotearoa. We also get book recommendations and creative tips.

Part 1/2 with Seonaid Burnie and Gina Russel. It features my kōrero with Seonaid, a textile artist from Scotland who practices natural dyeing. We get to hear how she went from a famous whiskey establishment to creating her practice, Cloth works, which she operates from her beautiful garden here in Ōtautahi. We learn of her Collaboration with Gina Russell and their brainchild Papahoa Fibreworks where they are working towards creating natural dyeing for the textile industry here in Aotearoa

In Episode 17 I have a great kōrero with the super talented Leonardo James, the Ōtautahi Artist magazine Symbiosis creator. We delve into Leonardo’s early introduction to photography, how his connections in the Ōtautabi creative scene inspired him to share their stories and how he came about publishing Symbiosis as a one-man band for his end-of-year project at Ara, finishing his Bachelor of Design. When we catch up, Leonardo is embarking on a ‘Boost it’ campaign to get funding for publication number 2.

I had the absolute pleasure to catch up with Louise Ayling. An Artist who through an early connection and appreciation of shoes landed In the high-end industry of bespoke footwear in the capital of this artisan practice, London. With years of learning this craft she returned to New Zealand to raise a family and pursue her own practice. This is a rare insight to the beautiful work that is the bespoke shoe and an insight to a evolving practice where Louise’s skills and fine art background merge.

In episode 16 I have a long overdue kōrero with the Visual Artist and maker extraordinaire Steven Junil Park 6x4 An insightful conversation about the meaningful act of making, the teaching we receive from materials and how it connects us to our ancestry and paving the path of those to come. There is so much wisdom in Park’s philosophy behind artistry and making. A reassuring reminder that we were born to use our hands and that this is an integral part of humanity.

In episode 15 I have an inspired kōrero with the immensely talented multi-disciplinary artist Kara Burrowes. We speak of her degree in Landscape Architecture which then led her to a Master of Fine Arts and a dip into Graphic Design at Polytechnic. We speak of her love for different materials, and the seeking of belonging that imbues her work. Kara is at Hagley studying jewellery design, adding wearable art pieces to her broad practice. She is currently working towards two exhibitions.

In this episode I have a wonderful kōrero with friend, colleague and fellow artist Greg Yee. We get Greg’s backstory from early years growing up in a small settlement south of Oamaru, how a puppet he made at school created a creative spark and the artistic path that followed. He speaks about how grappling with identity is an important part of his practice, how he combats boredom through further education investigation of his work and we spill the beans of an upcoming show.

In this episode I have an inspiring korero with textile designer Kate Watts. Watts is Ōtautahi born and bred but now resides in Ōtepoti where she runs her creative practice out of 120 m2 former butcher shop. Here she sells her own and other artists work, hosts work shop and runs her textile art practice. From her core business of making merino gloves to embroidered coats for the opera to Japanese rice paste resist Watts incorporates it all into her creative world. An inspiring and uplifting korero with many great insights to a diverse art practice.

In episode I catch up with Carmen Collie, Belinda Currie and Pippa Mills. We get to hear their story of how friendship and parenting led them to their art practice. How this partnership encouraged them to create the exhibition, ’Wake’, how living in Te Waipapa, Diamond Harbour with the ever changing landscape inspires their work. Three women working in different disciplines, printmaking and Jewellery, The Margaret Stoddart cottage is the perfect setting for this trio to showcase their talents.

In episode 11 I have a wonderful kōrero with fellow jeweller and colleague Debbie Bishop. We delve into her journey where creativity came in later years. How she fell in love with the art of jewellery making through a night class and how life circumstances made her take the plunge going from a 9-5 to being a full time creative and educator. Debbie manages ’Work space’ where she teaches and creates her own line of exquisite work as well as being the after 3 jewellery teacher at Hagley College.

In episode ten I have a wonderful kōrero with three of my learners from Risingholme, Annelies Krijgsman- Walker, Abbey Parsons and Sarah Brown. I ask them how they come to enrol in a pottery class, how this muddy pursuit has changed them and what the rewards and challenges are. An inspiring conversation about the benefits of trying something new and how good creating is for us all, Enjoy! 

A bonus episode featuring my extended conversation with Florist Artist Katherine English. Katherine share some wonderful book tips and reads a couple of favourite quotes. We also learn about what to look for when foraging in winter. Enjoy !

In this episode I have a wonderful conversation with the immensely talented Floristry Artist Katherine English. We learn of her love of objects and flowers, something that has been with her since childhood. How she went from a 9-5 admin role which she bravely gave up in order to take on study and change direction later in life. Through her passion for creating beauty and her artistic floristry, she has established a full time practice around her creative pursuit and teaching.

In episode you get to hear a conversation I had with the wondrous multidisciplinary Artist Henry Turner back in January. Henry was home from his art study in Frankfurt, Germany. I think Henry is creative talent personified, his work is a dive into his imaginative and beautiful world, always with depth and great thought behind it. We talk about his steady passage to his practice and how a creative never stops working, it’s a continuous ongoing dialogue with oneself. Enjoy!

In Episode 7 I catch up with the very clever Louann Sidon, Ōtautahi based painter. We learn about her childhood growing up in Australia where she was immersed in creativity through her parents pursuits, her move across the ditch attending high school at Rudolf Steiner here in Ōtautahi, how the convenience of the creating at kitchen table lead her to her main discipline, painting. She speaks of her favourite subject matter, animals and how life changes lead to her current painting style. She also shares her ideas behind her latest body of work, Phantasm.

In episode 6 I have a soulful kōrero with the very talented multidisciplinary Artist Brooke Georgia. We sit in her light studio in Waltham talking about her diverse practice, how her sustainable clothing label emerged from her desire to spend her time in the studio, about keeping your creative path alive during challenging circumstances and we get to hear about her latest solo exhibition ’Bleikr’ that is currently showing at ‘The National’

In episode 5 I have a heartfelt kōrero with the immensely talented multidisciplinary artist Lucy Dolan Kang. We talk about her path to becoming the artist she is today, about how her ethics has changed her approach to making art and we delve into her thoughts about identity, how her art communicates a sense of belonging and deep appreciation of our land. She speaks of her inspiration and intention behind her solo exhibition named ’She’ honouring the feminine showing at the Kakanui Church.

In episode 4 I have a kōrero with the wondrous Lily Wenmoth,BA student majoring in Philosophy and Economics turned Jeweller. We learn about her journey from academia into the world of gemstones and precious metals, establishing a sought after jewellery range. We talk about existential matters that inspired her to organise three art fundraisers for Palestine with number three being only weeks away. Lily shares where she seeks inspiration, how she has ended up teaching the craft of Jewellery making and how she had an exhibition with her creative whānau and another in the pipeline.

In this episode I have a conversation with the Inimitable Nichola Shanley. Nicholas career spans over decades and crosses over several mediums, clay being her main focus for the past 10 years. Her work is outer worldly and tells stories from other times. We find out how she acquired a Sea captain’s abode in Lyttelton, why she keeps on returning to Florence and who inspired her latest body of work ‘The Agnes Dei Collection’ that is currently showing at Object Space here in Ōtautahi.

In this episode I have a conversation with painter Rebecca Smallridge. Rebecca creates ethereal work that is closely connected to our natural world, blurring the lines between the real and surreal. Rebecca speaks about her practice, the ups and downs, how she has recently shifted her approach to painting, and she reveals her artistic superpower. She also has a great book recommendation and a tip for keeping yourself connected to your creative pursuit.

In this first episode of Ōtautahi Studios we get to know the host Tamara Rookes. She speaks of her upbringing in Sweden and how she came to live in Aotearoa, Ōtautahi. She speaks about her creative practice and how she went from fashion school to working with clay. We get to know about the ideas behind the show and what's to come.