“Before, art was something I had to fit in around other responsibilities but here it’s my job, so I have to have the discipline to keep working on it.”
Madeleine Slavick is talking about the three-week residency that she has just started as the current R.A.K. Mason Writer’s Fellow at New Zealand Pacific Studio, Mt Bruce. She had been looking forward to being ‘offline’ at the relatively remote rural location, but a surprisingly good internet connection scuttled that plan. And fortuitously, she is sharing the space with three other Americans – poet Kristin Sharp and husband Robert Silvey (a multimedia artist), and writer, curator and film director Susan di Rende.
Madeleine grew up in Maine on the east coast of the United States, but after 25 years in Hong Kong and the past three years in Wairarapa says she feels more like a Kiwi.
“It is strange being with Americans now as I don’t feel very American, and that was an unexpected occurrence!” she says.
She will be talking about her exhibition of photography called ‘Hong Kong Song’ at Aratoi this Saturday. The images were all taken during her years in the city. She has also opened a show of photographs of China, called ‘Red’, showing until 30 June on the third floor of the Victoria University Library.
Then on Sunday, the public is welcome to meet all the current residents, including Dunedin painter Emma Chalmers, who will be sharing their ideas and processes at the NZPS Open Day, from 2.30pm
Programme manager Jodie Dalgleish says the recent influx of international residents is due to concerted efforts to publicise the venue across the world. Its proximity to Wellington is a drawcard, as is the relatively remote, rural location. The Friends of Aratoi sponsor an annual fellowship at NZPS, last year’s recipient being Justine Fletcher.
Madeleine, who has so far authored several books of photography, poetry, and non-fiction, says she will be using the time to shape a new book that’s grounded in the Wairarapa. She's reviewing her images and writing, and also creating new work.
Photo caption: The current residents of NZPS (from left to right) Kristin Sharp, Robert Silvey, Susan di Rende, Emma Chalmers & Madeleine Slavick. Photo by Lynette Dewes, New Zealand Pacific Studio.
Currently at Aratoi: 'Hong Kong Song' - Photographs by Madeleine Slavick; 'Settling the Land: Order out of Chaos?’; 'Near Neighbours’; and 'John McLean - A Gathering’ all until 10 May. Kiri Riwai-Couch: ‘Mana Portraits - Nau mai haere mai!’, an online gallery running until 30 March. Events: Artist Talk by Madeleine Slavick at Aratoi, Saturday 21 March, 11am-12pm. NZ Pacific Studio Open Day, State Highway 2 (a few minutes north of Pukaha Mt Bruce), Sunday 22 March, 2-5pm.
