Award winner Susan Mabin in her studio at EIT.
Winner of this year’s prestigious David Fine Scholarship, Susan Mabin experienced “an explosion of creativity” when she launched into art studies at EIT’s ideaschool.
Growing up in Central Hawke’s Bay, Susan enjoyed art but wasn’t encouraged to pursue it in her final years at school. She trained as a nurse in Whanganui, travelled to Europe for her OE, and raised her four children, “all now pretty much grown up”, in Rotorua and Turangi.
Putting family first, it was a struggle finding the time and space to express herself through art.
“It’s never giving up in a way,” the second-year Bachelor of Visual Arts and Design student says. “My art is my passion and I know I’ve always had it as an outlet but this is just such a great opportunity to make it,” she says of degree studies. “I love coming on campus every day to work in my studio. I see it as work, it’s so positive.”
That may be an uncharacteristic rush of words for this quietly-spoken woman, but Susan is having to get used to the limelight after being awarded the David Fine Scholarship at a special function held recently for ideaschool staff, fellow students, artists and supporters at the Hastings Community Arts Centre.
Established five years ago, the scholarship honours the memory of David Fine, whose efforts, which included fundraising, helped support the centre. It alternates each year between a top student at ideaschool and Toimarangi, the Maori visual arts school in Hastings.
EIT degree programme coordinator Nigel Roberts says Susan supports her consistently outstanding student practice with competent craftsmanship and a fascinating rationale for her artwork. It was for these reasons that she was chosen for the scholarship.
Awarded by the centre’s trust, it will give Susan $2500 towards her final-year fees at EIT as well as providing her with the opportunity for an exhibition, which will be held at the centre next year.
Her lecturers expect she’ll have a big enough body of work to showcase by August.
“I am creating all this art,” she laughs “and wondered what I was going to do with it. I’m a fast worker and do lots of different things – painting, drawing and I’m getting into sculpture as well.”
Susan worked at her art for a decade or so before starting degree studies, painting and making ceramics, but feels she’s made great strides in the last few years.
“I am learning that research can develop your ideas and inform your art so that you create work with more depth. It’s like learning a new language. I’m surrounded by knowledge and creative energy. The lecturers are practising artists so you can draw on their years of experience. It’s also great to research here, with all the art books and art magazines in EIT’s library.”
Living in Hawke’s Bay again has provided her with pleasures she never imagined.
“It’s been really good for me to come here. I’ve been surprised at how much I appreciate the familiarity of the landscape and bumping into people I went to school with. At 18 I thought I’d never come back but I like being here.
“It’s my happy place,” she says with a smile.