Curiously Creative

Angie Richardson is a clinically registered and experienced Arts therapist who has worked extensively with children for the past 30 years. In her private practice ‘Creative Harmony’ Angie works with children, teens, and adults individually or with families using a multi modal approach that involves creative visual art making, drama, sandtray and movement. She is also a registered primary school teacher with counselling and psychotherapy training, as well as a Master’s Degree in Arts Therapy. She has worked as a behavioural support worker in schools for children with challenging behaviours and has vast experience working in the area of special needs. Her current work involves Drama and Dance therapy for special needs schools, facilitating art therapy groups for clients with dementia and those recovering from mental health issues. As well as running workshops for the Masters Programme at Whitecliffe and supervising clinical trainees. Amongst many things we talk about how the arts improve learning capabilities, the power of play and playfulness, the importance of cultivating the arts within school systems, how structure can develop improvisation skills, art and creativity as an inherent human characteristic, ways to make arts more accessible, inclusive and integrated in a class or curriculum, Improvisation as a learning and teaching skill and how positivity can develop awareness, skills and capability.

Sarah Frizzell is the co-founder of The Lucky Taco, a highly acclaimed taco food truck business that was at the forefront of the modern food truck industry in New Zealand. Having learned from some of the most famous chefs in Mexico, alongside extensive research of the food truck industry in California, The Lucky Taco have developed their own taco flavours, Mexican horchata’s, chilli salts, sauces, pickles and taco meal kits. As well as doing private events and establishing amazing collaborations. The Lucky Taco has become one of the most loved and popular food brands around, sharing their experience and knowledge at many events and receiving a multitude of awards both locally and internationally for many years.

Pamela is a dancer, teacher and entrepreneur from Lithuania. Having started dancing when she was 5 years old with traditional lithuanian folk dance, she became spellbound by the swing dance Lindy Hop at the age of sixteen. She very quickly became a highly acclaimed competitor, international instructor, judge and performer working alongside some of the best in the world. She also runs her own coaching programme alongside designing and managing her own dance shoe range Swingin.Shoes. Amongst many wonderful things, we talk about the power of talking things out loud, processing mental and emotional overwhelm as a young proffessional, what it means to be an artist, navigating criticism and compliment, practicing courage as a muscle and tools to process your inner critic.

Urzila Carlson is one of the most hilarious and prominent comedians based in New Zealand. Having entered the comedy world much later in life by “accident”, she now regularly performs and tours all around the world, and appears in many tv shows both in New Zealand and Australia. She has racked up many many awards for her stand-up comedy. Such as the best female comedian for multiple years at the NZ Comedy Guild Awards and many more. She is also the author of her memoir ‘Rolling with the Punchlines’ and appearing in Netflix’s ‘comedians of the world’. Amongst many things we talk about the power of humour for building human connection and communication, the value of fast feedback in resolving content, curating content for writing versus speaking , the pay off of failure and how showering, brushing your hair and putting on a good bra can induce productivity. ;)

Alice Mei is a highly acclaimed Swing dancer, instructor and performer. Having started dancing at the very young age of 4 across numerous dance styles, she fell particularly in love with Lindy Hop and authentic jazz. She has been swing dancing for 14 years and very quickly became a highly sought-after international instructor teaching in more than 30 countries. She is also an acclaimed competitor winning a plethora of titles all around the world. Amongst many things we talk about habit and repetition to reduce fear and develop confidence, processing rejection as a healthy exercise for developing mental and emotional resilience, the importance of having the right people around you and navigating teaching art vs making art.

Giapo Graziol is the founder and creator of the gelato company Giapo. Their creations are described as some of the craziest, tastiest and most luxurious edible works of art. These range from delicious and unique flavour combinations, to wearable gelato, to international dishes represented in gelato form. Their quest to change how people experience ice cream has made their creations go beyond traditional forms and push the boundaries to deliver a gelato experience unlike any other. Giving them world wide acclaim and being listed as 1 of 51 excellent ice cream shops around the world. Amongst many things, we talk about how gratitude is part of the creative process, empathy as a synonym of intelligence, the mindset for innovation, the importance of focusing on the process to maintain passion and resilience, how a strong business purpose and intention can guide and build business currency and what it means to be an artist.

Rose Barbarich is the driving force behind General Collective Lifestyle market, a mecca for contemporary hand-crafted products. From launching a small market of 14 in 2014 to now a large-scale design and lifestyle market with over 300 designers and makers. They have become the largest independently curated market in Auckland offering the best place to buy and support independent and locally designed products. Amongst many things we talk about the beginnings of General Collective, system approaches that can enable you to grow and scale your business, the value of planning to give you confidence and creative freedom and how conversation can fuel inspiration and motivation.

Elliot Alexander is the founder and director of Endemic World. Endemic World is a gallery space, an online and offline retailer of local and international art, and provider of a variety of artistic services to help local artists do more and be more. With a passion for business, creativity and the arts at the core, Elliot’s extensive experience has served Endemic World as a very inspiring, ever-growing and multifaceted art business. Amongst many things we talk about how routine and discipline can foster creativity, balancing between the creative and the business aspects, The importance on learning how to sell and market in the artistic industry, and maintaining vision and resilience through the challenges of running a business.

Alastair Walker is one of the co-creators of Caretaker, a bespoke New York style cocktail bar inspired by the golden era of bar tending. He is a cocktail connoisseur with over 12 years of experience and learning with some of the best in the world. Inspired by hosting as his core value, Alastair’s passion and meticulous approach to cocktails draws on classics created in the 18th, 19th, and early 20th century, in order to create bespoke drinks and experiences. Amongst many things we talk about the importance of simplicity, the value of research and exploring what already exits, how pessimism can be useful when creating something new and the value of engagement and communication as a source for inspiration and decision making.

Olivia Bezett is one of the youngest and most widely recognised New Zealand Artists. A realist surrealism artist, she creates highly detailed drawings with a quirky twist of surrealism. Her whimsical animal portraits have made her wildly popular all around the world, with a commission waitlist spanning over 3 years. Amongst many things we talk about developing a full time art career, charging for your work, processing criticism, the values of experimentation, utilising social media and trusting your own process.

Sylvia Sykes is a swing dancer, instructor, judge, and choreographer. She is one of the most widely recognized and respected swing dance instructors in the world. A member of the National Swing Dance Hall of Fame, and co-founder of the International Lindy Hop Championships. Sylvia has been dancing since 1966, competing and teaching since the 70’s and has won many awards in that time. Having studied with many of the dance greats like Frankie Manning, Dean Collins and Maxie Dorf. Sylvia’s unparalleled expertise and passion for the dance has made her a celebrated international instructor and the most sought-after head judge for competitions. Amongst many things we chat about failure and the value of making new and improved mistakes, finding joy and fulfilment from the process, dealing with burn out and navigating through competitions in the arts arena.

Welby Ings is first and foremost a Storyteller. He is also an award-winning academic, educator, designer, filmmaker and playwright. He is an elected Fellow of the British Royal Society of Arts and a consultant to many international organizations on issues of creativity and learning. He is a professor in design at the Auckland University of Technology and in 2001 was awarded the Prime Minister's inaugural Supreme Award for Tertiary Teaching Excellence. He is also the author of his latest book, Disobedient Teaching, which talks about the ability to change educational practices that have been shaped by anxiety, ritual and convention. Amongst many things we talk about the value of storytelling, the difference between being creative and being artistic, the unglamorous side of creativity, the importance of questioning to grow creative awareness, good leadership, and the notion of success.

Flox. A.K.A. Hayley King is a multi-disciplined street artist and entrepreneur. From aerosol and stencil art to prints, publications, murals, graphic design, live painting, workshops, collaborations, charity work, solo exhibitions and so much more. Hayley’s vibrant work has made Flox become one of NZ’s most widely recognized, in demand and versatile art brands. Amongst many things we talk about transitioning from being a solo artist to a business and team, giving yourself the permission to re-inspire yourself, maintaining connection and love for your work, and the value of collaborating to expand yourself and achieve collective growth.

Peter Gilderdale is a multidisciplined researcher, senior lecturer at the Auckland University of Technology, a postcard historian and a professional calligrapher. His calligraphic work has been internationally recognized and is one of just six southern hemisphere lettering artists to be listed as one 800 most significant contributors to the last 150 years of world letter arts. Amongst many things we talk about the notion of originality, its link to middle class identity, the value of doing and acknowledging good work, what having a style really means and how to harness curiosity.

Sal Valentine, also known as Ivan Luketina-Johnston, is most famous for being the lead singer, songwriter, composer, manager and musical director of his dynamic rhythm & blues band Sal Valentine and The Babyshakes. A band that is widely regarded as one of the finest acts in the country and have just released their newest single, with their EP 'Church' coming out in June. Amongst many things we talk about his creative process, writing from personal experiences, the creative mindset vs the industrious mindset and how inspiration is a decision.

Afldaniels Mabingo is a traditional performer, dancer, percussionist, writer, choreographer, educator and researcher of artistic practices from East Africa. Mabingo has taught dance and given lectures in communities and academic settings in different countries in Africa, the U.S., Australia, Germany, The Islands of the Bahamas, and New Zealand. And is currently pursuing a PhD in Dance Studies at the University of Auckland. Amongst many things we talk about African ideologies and philosophy on creativity, the power of art, the importance of nurturing experiences, what it means to think vs do and how to foster a reflective learning experience.

Natasya Yusoff's multi-passionate, entrepreneurial and creative spirit has led her to multiple ventures as an accomplished actor, professional children entertainer, dance instructor and owner of a swing dance school. Today she finds home and joy as the motivational yogi through running The Yoga Pantry. Amongst many things we talk about how to find focus and navigate through multiple passions, how we can use comparison to our advantage, the importance of white space for productivity, rest and inspiration.

Ramona is a dancer in every sense of the word. She is a professional dancer from New York who’s teaching experience spans 2 decades alongside legends like Frankie Manning. She is one of the highest profile Lindy Hop and Authentic Jazz dance teachers in the world. Not to mention her additional professional training in Ballet, Contemporary, Tap and West African dance. Including professional studies at the very prestigious Jose Limon Institute in New York. Amongst many things we discuss what it means to have a unique artistic personality, processing fear and failure and what we can learn from Jazz and Lindy Hop developing in an adverse environment.

Sir Ray Avery is a Pharmaceutical scientist, inventor and social entrepreneur. He is famous for designing state of the art intraocular lenses for the Fred Hollows Foundation that collapsed the global price of lenses, making modern cataract surgery accessible to the worlds poorest. Sir Avery continues work on many world-changing projects and has received many prestigious awards over the years. He is founder and CEO of Medicine Mondiale, an organisation that makes quality healthcare and equipment accessible to the poorest developing nations around the world. He is also the author of ‘Rebel with a Cause’, an autobiography that charts his life from childhood in english orphanages and foster homes to knighthood. Amongst many things we discuss his journey from being an orphan to being a knight, the power of knowledge, the freedom of planning, how genius is in everyone and how dreams create magic!

Vasanti Unka is a writer, illustrator and designer. She has worked in the book and magazine industry in New Zealand for many years and has illustrated numerous picture books over that time. More recently, writing and illustrating The Boring Book, which won the New Zealand Post Margaret Mahy Book of the Year award as well as the Best Picture Book Award. Unka’s latest children’s book, Stripes! No, Spots! was also a finalist at the 2016 BK Design Awards. Amongst many things we discuss her creative journey, process, how to navigate creative road blocks and the power of creating from emotion.