About Us - Cath O'Brien

Creative Background

Working creatively with children is a privilege. I learn as much from them as they do from me. I am a practising artist and I have a Bachelor of Visual Art from Auckland University of Technology. I am a photographer primarily but I also paint and sculpt. My style of teaching focuses on both process and product. Children are naturally creative and intuitively know how to create beautiful and unique works of art. My goal is to nurture and support this creativity through art. I like to provide a dynamic environment with flexible structure for the children to explore their creative ideas within.

Teaching Philosophy

 The intuitive process can teach us a lot about art and ourselves. Children are curious and intuitive and my classes are designed to support this. I encourage experimentation with art materials and style. I will also teach the children skills and techniques to give them more options in expressing themselves visually. I explore traditional art making methods as well as contemporary visual communication by looking at artists and art movements from history and today. This is an art elemental table I designed to show you the basic concepts I work from. Art Elemental Table
I encourage art practice with low impact on the environment. I do this by reusing and recycling as well as introducing a mindfulness about the materials we use to make art. I use the elements from my my art elemental table (see next page) to explain visual ideas and concepts. We will explore the art elemantal table through drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, collecting, categorising, assemblage, installation, play and group work. Some projects will take place over 2 - 3 works and the children willl not necessarily bring home a product every week. YOU are an extremely important part of all this. Thanks for supporting your child to be creative by enrolling them in the class. If you would like to talk to me please dont hesitate to call or email me or catch me after the class. ph 4782237. If you like you can have a look at some of my photography at www.cathobrien.com 

Our Vision

Mairangi Arts Centre is a strong, community based visual arts education centre supporting and encouraging local/regional and culturally diverse communities to experience and enjoy a diverse range of visual arts practices, exhibitions and education programmes.

Our Purpose

To provide a supportive, nurturing and encouraging environment at Mairangi Arts Centre that fosters community access to and participation in the visual arts by offering a strong and purposeful education and exhibition programme that meets the learning and presentation needs of the community.