Painting, poetry help artist to process trauma
A poet and visual artist from Invercargill is one of seven recipients of the Arts Foundation of New Zealand Te Tumu Toi’s coveted Springboard award.
Maisie Chilton, now living in Wellington, won a cash prize of $15,000 and a chance to be mentored by a a senior artist.
Chilton’s mother, who died in 2014, was an art teacher. After the loss, Chilton finally felt the courage to start painting.
Chilton, who has cerebral palsy, said for a long time she had told herself that she could not paint because of her disability.
She experienced a breakdown in 2019 and realised she had been repressing a decade-old trauma. This became a cathartic period for Chilton and her art.
‘‘Painting things mirrored how I felt,’’ she said.
Since then, Chilton has concentrated her art on the ‘‘intersection of trauma, disability and radical vulnerability’’, and on trying to build a safe place where people feel comfortable to open up.
An exhibition, titled Where does it hurt?, of Chilton’s art will be held at the Toi Po¯neke Arts Centre in central Wellington between July 3 and 21.
Chilton said she was aware the world of art galleries could feel intimidating. ‘‘That worries me because everyone needs art. And everyone needs to feel like they can at least try and make art, even for themselves,’’ she said.
‘‘So, I’m hoping that because I’m not formally trained, and I have a disability ... I guess sort of my underlying thought is that if I can do it then anyone can.
‘‘I’m hoping that the exhibition will be a bit more accessible for that reason.’’
Chilton will be mentored by Christchurch-based artist Julia Morison, whose career has spanned three decades. ‘‘She very wisely said she prefers to respond to my work when she sees it in person, which I think is completely valid,’’ Chilton said.
Morison has worked with a range of mediums and has had much variety in her work, which appealed to Chilton.
The Springboard award’s primary focus is to kickstart opportunities for artists who are in the formative stage of their career.