Fill your creative bucket at the Laborartry art academy and try something new or be taken further in your practice.
From traditional drop-in life-drawing classes and experimental workshops to experimental printmaking and courses in modern animation and visual storytelling, Laborartry invites budding and experienced artists to learn alongside others in a nurturing, creative community.
Tutor and spokesperson Brian Thurogood says came from initial discussions about the relevance of art in these modern, changed, times, and the nature of art schools and art academies.
“We liked the idea of an academy, yet felt that was too formal and, perhaps, too traditional. Laborartry is a good description, yet lacks one-word punch. After circling around many options, it hatched itself from the cauldron of our brainstorming.”
With an emphasis on multi-disciplinary, Brian says, the tutors have come through combinations of many years of both formal and personal learning, and have been active in melding various forms and mediums into finished works.
Beginning in October and run by local artists, the first programmes cover practical and experimental courses for both children and adults.
Elisabeth Denis begins the term with an Introduction to Community Art through Words and Design for 5–12-year-olds, a 10-week programme on Monday afternoons, 3.30–5pm, from October 10. Elisabeth’s interdisciplinary background includes formal training in cinema, creative writing and literature, alongside her passions for relational aesthetics and conceptual and social arts.
Stuart Shepherd’s four-week course on Visual Storytelling, starting on Wednesdays, mixes practical exercises with ongoing reviews. Students will also produce a presentation portfolio as a takeaway showcase of their work. Stuart has lived the New York ‘art life’ as well as down-home work at Massey University, Hungry Creek Art School and, of course, Peter Jackson’s LOTR. He is recognised as an authority on NZ contemporary folk art.
Later in the month, international animation influencer Arshad Mirza Baig offers an Introduction to Character Design, on Saturdays 10am–1pm. Arshad has worked with Universal Pictures, 20th Century Fox, Disney Junior, Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, BBC, Childrens ITV, Lego, Columbia and MTV.
The following week sees the start of Experimental Printmaking with Dyana Wells, an eight-week course on Mondays, 6-8pm. As well as ‘historical’ degrees in Science (BSc) and Philosophy (MA Hons), Dyana has continued her exploration into arts with a Masters in Creative Writing (Hons) and more recently a Diploma in Art & Creativity. She combines her current studies at the Waikato Society of Arts alongside Nicholas Wilton online courses.
Saturdays also introduce a series of practical workshops by Marten Ten Broek, drawing on his Bachelor in Media Arts (with a moving image major and an honours in painting), and a post graduate diploma in teaching.
The full details on the tutors and courses can be found on https://laborartry.nz or you can email contact@laborartry.nz with questions.
