AIR 2012 has supported seven professional Tasmanian artists to take up residence in five selected schools around the state.
In residence across first term (Feb-May) the 2012 artists and participating schools are:
Kelly Drummond Cawthon, (contemporary dance) and Julie Waddington (theatre) at Kingston High School
Kelly Drummond Cawthon and Julie Waddington’s residency is a collaboration that brings together contemporary dance and theatre, offering students the opportunity to engage in physical theatre workshops and contribute to the development of a new movement based performance.
Lyndon Riggall, (writer) at St Helens District School
Emerging writer, Lyndon Riggall is working with students on imaginative ways to develop writing skills. Lyndon will work around the school as a roving writer and collaborate with other arts areas and the broader community.
Staja Hobsbawn and Christian Parr, (social circus skills and equipment making) at Penguin High School
Staja Hobsbawn and Christian Parr are working predominately with Year 9 students teaching them circus skills and making circus equipment. These students will in turn teach the local primary aged children the circus acts they themselves have learnt.
Alyssa Simone, (video installation/multimedia) at Claremont College
Whilst at Claremont College, Alyssa Simone is developing material for her Morilla Scholarship exhibition at MONA using video installation and theatrical devices, motion sensors, arduino devices, sound, lasers and a unique projection screen. She is working with students and teachers in an open studio practice, engage in discussions, demonstrate her work and work with them on a range of digital skills.
Glenn Folpp, (multi-media) at Brooks High School
Through his residency, Glen Folpp is exploring and documenting significant locations for the students. Through writing, audio and high-resolution video and digital photography these pieces will form part of an interactive non-linear multi-image installation.
Artists profiles
Christian Parr was a previous recipient of AIR funding in 2011, delivering a social circus program at Burnie High School. Since arriving in Tasmania he has been working for Slipstream Circus as Project Manager, assisting with community development initiatives and outreach programs within the northwest. He is also currently Founding Artistic Director of the annual Melbourne Juggling Convention, now in its fifth year.
Staja Hobsbawn trained, performed and taught with the Women’s Circus for many years prior to joining Westside Circus. Her programs ranged from teaching young women with substance abuse issues, women in prison, newly arrived refugee women to Grade 9 students in a local girl’s school. Since moving to Tasmania in 2011 Staja has undertaken a Bachelor of Social Work and is interested in incorporate social circus into long term projects working with young people and youth at risk.
Glenn Folpp is an established digital media artist whose work investigates the relationship and the context of community, culture and personal identity. He has worked as a senior secondary teacher of media production, initiated projects in independent media and performance, run children’s workshops, media artist in schools programs and community events. Glenn has a Masters in Fine Arts and Design and is currently working towards a touring digital image exhibition on places in Tasmania titled ‘On The Road’.
Alyssa Simone is a digital media artist who since 1996 has exhibited her work nationally. In 2011 Alyssa both completed her PhD in lens based practise at the University of Tasmania and was awarded the MONA scholarship to create an exhibition to be exhibited at MONA mid-2012. Her video and photographic installations incorporate new technologies, audio, animation and ready-made objects. Simone’s interests in tricks of the eye and the illusory aspects of perception have become a recurring motif in her work.
Kelly Drummond Cawthon has extensive experience within Australia and overseas as a dancer, educator, choreographer and director. She has a Master of Fine Arts in dance, choreography and performance from the Florida State University and spent twelve years on the faculty at the University of Florida School of Theatre and Dance. Kelly is a founding member of the Digital Worlds Institute, pioneering interdisciplinary research and teaching. Kelly recently returned to Tasmania where she has joined the Salamanca Arts Centre as Arts & Events Coordinator and is teaching at several local schools and studios.
Julie Waddington has worked as a director, dramaturg, production manager and teaching artist in Tasmania, Victoria and South Australia. She is the Tasmanian Theatre Companies Marketing Manager, having joined the TTC team as Company Manager in 2010, following a nine year period interstate. She has qualifications in Science and Education and a Graduate Diploma of Dramatic Art (Direction). Julie was the Artistic Director and CEO of Riverland Youth Theatre for over three years and worked with numerous theatre companies and Arts Centres.
Lyndon Riggall is a twenty-one year old student and writer from Launceston, living and studying in Hobart. Having recently graduated with an Arts degree majoring in English and Classical Literature, he is now entering into an Honours year in Creative Writing at UTAS. His non-fiction has appeared on Cracked.com, Crikey's lit blog LiteraryMinded, and Islet Online. He performed at the Sydney Theatre Company, representing Tasmania as a national competitor in the 2011 final of the Australian Poetry Slam. Lyndon is currently working on the first draft of a fantasy novel for children.