Kia ora Koutou,
Welcome to my first blog entry.
I am an artist and a Massey distance student based on the east coast of New Zealand in the first city to see the sun, Gisborne (Turanganui-A-Kiwa). I grew up in a small east coast township and have lived in Gisborne most of my life along with my four older siblings. I attended art school and was a practising artist for twelve years before embarking on my journey into full time study, an introductory Social Anthropology paper initially sparked my interest and helped me to make sense of the world we live in with all of it's complexity.
I have since taken up development studies and sociology papers as I moved further into my degree but have majored in Social Anthropology. My art always took me places and this connection to different landscapes, communities, stories and history drew me into it's fold and naturally the study of society, culture and the environment resonated with me. So I like to think Anthropology has opened my eyes more and helped me to think critically around global and local issues and effects on local communities.
My art has taken me to the Northern tip of Australia to deliver a portrait to an elder, in which i learned of narratives and stories of historical oppression and injustice. I have a strong concern for environmental matters which has deepened over the last three years of study, Realising the damaging effect humans are having on the planet, I petitioned against deep-sea oil drilling in Te Tairawhiti and stood for local government this year, polling quite well on a fairly unpopular platform, that of anti-oil, pro-environment and clean water, and a strong focus on providing support for the growing hungry and homeless. I see my studies as a channel, as I build my awareness and knowledge I can then build on my skill base and use this where it is needed, to assist on many levels in my community and elsewhere.
My ambitions are to take my knowledge into the field of development, preferably in the Pacific region with my fathers family heritage being from Samoa. I would like to see my skills used practically in a local setting and advocating for people and the natural environment, which are so inextricably linked, working with people and seeing things from their perspectives but also critically aware of global systems and power affecting vulnerable populations, such as in the arena of climate change.
I expect to learn a great deal through this course and have worked in a group setting previously so I am aware of the need to pull together and draw on each persons strengths as well as meeting deadlines and keeping to the assigned requirements. My study is concerning people first and foremost so communication is vital, whether it is directly with local communities or in research papers, I understand the need to be able to convey ideas and listen to people and hear all perspectives. So on this note I believe as a communicator I can see others perspectives and can accommodate other views. My strengths also lie in visual presentations and I like to make things as clear and creative as possible. I suppose my weaknesses are keeping the length of my sentences and structure in check.
Nga mihi
Jess
