Third-year Bachelor of Screen Arts (Concept Art and Design) student, Anne-Marie Hamilton, achieved a personal milestone last week when she held the first solo exhibition of her art at The Cottage Gallery, in the grounds of Te Rau o te Huia.
The mixed media exhibition, which ran from 26th August to September 1st is the final project of Anne-Marie’s degree, showcasing work which she has completed during this year. The ideas for most of the work came about after a trip to Vancouver and Vanarts - Vancouver Institute of Media Arts - at the beginning of this year. It combines traditional art and digital art forms: laser-cut acrylic panels forming a cube, graphite frottage, acrylic painting onto a wooden surfboard, storytelling, and some of her poetry.
The statement piece of her exhibition is the strikingly painted surf board. “It reflects a story – my Scottish ancestry and the Weir family coming to New Zealand in 1848 and settling on the Otago Peninsula ...all the generations are represented,” the past, as well the current - her children and grandchildren - “it’s my autobiography,” she explains. And as a surfer herself, it resonates with her on this level as well.
Although she’s dabbled in art most of her life, and participated successfully (she won the Telecom art award in 1993), Anne-Marie’s 25-year career has been in teaching – art at Aparima College – then training as a Paramedic and becoming Station Manager in Riverton for 10 years, which developed from starting as a St John Ambulance volunteer. A return to study something she loves has been significant for her.
“Art is my passion,” Anne-Marie says. Her first qualification was a Certificate in Visual Communication at SIT some years ago, which she says “... gave me a taste of everything – photography, print making, drawing, and painting”. As for the last three years and achieving her degree, “I have enjoyed every moment of it,” she enthused, and has high praise for SIT’s Centre for Creative Industries, Te Rau o te Huia. Anne-Marie always knew SIT was good but this was confirmed during her visit to Vanarts.
“Wow, SIT Invercargill, you are something ... Vanarts is in the top three in the world, do you realise the quality of what we have here? SIT is absolutely one of the best – they have the technical equipment, the facilities, the tutors.”
She is also full of praise for her fellow students. “It’s been an absolute privilege to rub shoulders with these young people; I’m in awe of their talents.”
Post graduation, Anne-Marie’s main focus will be making art for further exhibitions and “to continue producing the sort of art that has a huge story base”, which is drawn from her own life and heritage. She’s looking forward to having the time to regroup, refocus and work on something fresh. Collaborating with other artists - something she enjoys - is high on her list of goals.
In the meantime, Anne-Marie is finishing her degree and her year on a high. “I feel really proud to have done this,” she says. “It’s been life changing and worthwhile. To cross that stage at the end of the year, it’s going to be a real occasion.”