About Us - Helen Reid
Creative Background
Born in Tasmania, Helen came to Auckland to train as a teacher. She met, and later married, a New Zealander and they settled on the North Shore. After gaining her Teaching Certificate and Higher Diploma, Helen taught for many years at Torbay Primary School, and more recently as the Art Specialist at Saint Kentigern School in Remuera. She has traveled widely in Europe – following a keen interest in art and photography – on a number of walking trips through Switzerland, Italy, Turkey and the Greek Islands. Greek Island architecture provided the stimulus for Helen to design her present home in Torbay.
Teaching Philosophy
I enjoy working with children, and introducing them to the magic of line, colour and design. Watching them grow in confidence as they master new skills and begin to express their own ideas is a source of great satisfaction. I believe it is important for children to be exposed to a variety of media – drawing and painting, cutting and pasting, and working with pastels and dye, for example, instead of being restricted to a single technique. A willingness to experiment with different materials to achieve the desired result is the mark of a truly creative child
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.