About Us - Estel Slabbert
Creative Background
I
have been involved with tutoring at Mairangi Arts Centre since 1997 and am responsible for teaching the majority of the children’s classes.
I gave workshops at the Edge in 1999 and 2000 for primary schools in the Auckland region to teach silkscreening on fabric the easy way. During 2010 I taught workshops for a primary school and lectured and helped 120 children to appreciate Impressionistic painters.
Before immigrating to New Zealand (1997) I was running a silk screening business producing prints for interior decoration puproses. My business printed silkscreen designs on fabric and colours were hand-painted to create unique items.
As a professional artist I ahve worked for Intona Design Studios (Johannesburg) and the Library and Museum Services (Pretoria).
Teaching Philosophy
My philosophy about art is shor and simple: to teach students everything I know and have discovered on my own journey as an artist and tutor, to encourage my students to explore and extend themselves as far as possible. For the younger students, my aim is to stimulate them to use their imagination and to use vibrant colours.
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.