I am River - a project.
Weaving memory, emotion, and
environmental awareness into my art.
Hello Friends,
Last January, I embarked on a deeply personal journey with my virtual art show, Leave the World Behind – The Art of Unlearning. This hybrid online and in-person exhibition featured semi-abstract landscapes and self-portraits, reflecting my path of self-discovery and my decision to break free from the constraints I had unknowingly set for myself. Through this process, I embraced my neurodivergence (ADHD) fully and began steering my art practice toward a more sustainable and authentic direction.
One of the most rewarding parts of this experience was creating a series of small daily paintings based on sketches drawn in situ in the Catlins—rather than relying on photo references. Trusting my own memory and perception of the landscape turned out to be an incredibly enriching experience! I discovered that when we rely on our senses rather than a camera, we unlock a deeper, more intimate connection with the moment, revealing details we were not even aware of!
This realization inspired me to take things a step further—leading to my newest creative challenge: a 52-week plein air river painting project. With this, I’ll bring my direct experiences from the rivers back into the studio, allowing emotion and memory of each day to guide my work.
This exploration has sparked my next project: I am River. With this, I’ll be diving into the significance of the Clutha/Mata-Au and Manuherikia Rivers—celebrating their delicate ecosystems and the vital role they play in our landscape. I want to engage with these rivers in a truly immersive way: painting them plein air, capturing the scene not just as it appears, but as I feel it in the moment.
Through this project, I hope to bring attention to the fragile native flora and fauna these rivers sustain and contribute to the ongoing dialogue about our intricate relationship with water and landscape. But this isn’t just about my experience of course—I would love for the community to get involved! I want to hear your stories, your memories, and your reflections on these rivers.
Finally, as part of my continued journey of self-exploration, I’m eager to dive into my own personal connection with these two bodies of water exploring their resonance with my own past, growing up around other rivers.
Let’s flow through this journey together!