Artist Statement and CV for Mandy Cherry Joass
As a descendant of the first European settlers to arrive in New Zealand and also of Ngapuhi Whakapapa (lineage) I express my multiculturalism through my work. The contrasts and tensions created by weaving together disparate and unexpected materials represents the complex interweaving of cultures.Following in the footsteps of my Kuia (great grandmother) Cecily Ruby McManus, I seek to preserve and perpetuate all things mātauranga (knowledge wisdom skill) Māori in an inclusive, lighthearted, abstract and ecological way.
I work with recycled and natural traditional materials as a way to embrace perpetual connection to ancestral knowledge. Weaving is my personal expression of this knowledge.Recycled aluminium Venetian blinds serve as an industrial place holder for harakeke (flax). I weave and rivet large and small scale, light weight, airy and visually exciting pieces to express entanglement and movement.
Education
Graduated from the University of Canterbury 2015 with BFA in sculpture. My full time art practice also includes: sound and installation work, printing, painting, ceramics, jewelry and illustration.
Exhibition history
2019: Solo exhibition in February at Kina art gallery New Plymouth2019: accepted to exhibit at Tai Tapu Sculpture Garden annual exhibition 2018-19: Kaipara Coast Sculpture Garden Exhibition2018: NZSoS (New Zealand Sculpture on the Shore) Devonport Auckland2018: Art In A Garden annual exhibition. Flaxmere Gardens, Canterbury2018: Inaugural exhibition, Argo coworking one box art gallery New Brighton Christchurch2018: Tai Tapu Sculpture Garden annual exhibition (piece purchased for Tai Tapu permanent collection)2017: First Thursdays 'Poi Play Paint Station Christchurch'2017: First Thursdays 'Warp and Weft' exhibition2017: Art In A Garden annual exhibition, Hawarden Canterbury2017: 'By 4' group show at Next gallery 2017: CoCA Artist Residency 'The Social'2017: Nelson Fringe Festival, 'Secret Exhibition' 2017: Finalist inaugural ZONTA Ashburton Female Art Award2017: Tai Tapu Sculpture Garden annual exhibition 2016: New Zealand Sculpture on the Shore, Devonport Auckland2016: First Thursdays 'Life Aquatic', group show, Christchurch2016: First Thursdays 'Vessel', group show, Christchurch 2016:
TSG Tai Tapu Sculpture Garden annual exhibition, Canterbury
2015: Canterbury Museum: ‘Outside In’, group show ChristchurchSculpture Department Show: ‘Aggregate’ Litchfield st Lot
Solo show: ‘All Here Now’ 2014: UCSA Arts Week: Art Auction, undercroft
2014: Casting Room, Sculpture Department Show: ‘Shelfies’, Casting Room, SOFA
Sculpture 2014: Department Show, ‘P.O.A’, Pop up gallery in shops 4&5 Cathedral Junction
2013: Curator/Chemistry/Design/Sculpture student group show: ‘Communication is the key to every healthy relation- ship’, SOFA Gallery2013: Group show: ‘Guardian’, Oakover Community Gardens, University of Canterbury Awards and Scholarships:
Lonsdale-Edgar junior prize in drawing 2012
Member of the Golden Key Society 2013 Bickerton-Widdowson Trust Memorial Scholarship 2014 Grant Lingard Scholarship 2015
