CROSSED PATHS

from ISSUE 1,083 - FRIDAY 28TH APRIL 2023

CROSSED PATHS

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Julie Shanks began carving in Upper Hutt in 2013 and has mostly taught herself. Since moving to Kirwee four years ago, she has become more involved in local art through the Selwyn Artists Collective, Te Huanui and Arts Heart, allowing her to develop and extend her work. Julie’s inspiration comes from the shapes, light patterns and textures she sees in nature, the landscape, structures and buildings around her, plus artworks and photos. Textures, light and shadows are important aspects for her to include in her work.

It is important to Julie to give new life to (often) discarded materials and items, experimenting by repurposing and reusing them can be challenging. She has used wood and pieces of trees, shells, stones, wires, glass blocks and dishes bought from op shops, along with insulators from power poles. Some of the stones she has been using are weathered and from old buildings. She enjoys exploring the contrasts between the materials and stone, especially the feel, texture and colour. One of the aspects Julie loves about working with Oamaru stone is the feel of it. She is happy when people are drawn to experience more from the stone by touching them.

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