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MAY–AUG 2022 THE REVIEW | 13 FEATURE “It’s made us all feel more confident in who we are.” – Allyson Hamblett abstract work now, too. I love the way the tutors work alongside the artists, and the way the artists work with each other in the studio. Sometimes, there is a similarity between the work of artists who attend the same class, almost feeding off the creative energy within the class. Māpura has developed a creative community where everyone feels included. In pre-Covid times, Māpura organised exhibitions of our work at mainstream exhibition venues, such as Pah Homestead, Studio One, North Art, Mairangi Arts Centre, Corban Estate and the Aotea Centre. Lizzie Collenette has been attending Māpura for over 20 years. Lizzie uses a head pointer to paint. In her words, “My name is Lizzie Collenette and I have Cerebral Palsy and I am in wheelchair and I can’t talk and I have light write and it help me talk to people and I have head [pointer] and the teachers need set up me for me with my art working and I not do with hands and I do my art with my head pointer and if Māpura Studios not have many peoples are sat at houses. I love do flowers pictures and animals and one teacher drawing and Māpura they put in art them are hardworking I remember the first exhibition we had at Corban Estate. It was amazing to showcase our work in such a space, and the opening night was well attended. I hope we can get back to those times again soon. Māpura artist Leonie Brunt says, “Going to Māpura Studios has opened many unexpected doors by enabling me to achieve things like becoming an author. Also, I have been given a taste of how the art world works through exhibitions and I am truly grateful for the opportunities Māpura Studios provides.” It’s been amazing how Māpura has worked over Zoom, throughout Covid. It’s maintained the social connection between the artists, as well as the creativity. A few songs were even composed over Zoom. and teachers put people’s put pictures in art show, and they help me 2 books one is like my road life story and one flowers and thank all teachers.” Leonie Brunt told me, “Being a part of such a creative space as Māpura Studios over the past six years has increased my self- confidence immensely. This has helped me go beyond both my comfort zone and the confines of my electric wheelchair. Lots of my art is based on my visual perception of nature, even though I am physically unable to enter into such environments.” Māpura really supports its artists to lead creative lives, and as Lizzie points out, life would be dull without Māpura Studios. It’s supported both Lizzie and Leonie to become painters and authors. Above: Allyson Hamblett, pictured with portrait ‘Kerry’, has been attending Māpura Studios for 20 years. Opposite top: Leonie Brunt says being part of a creative space has increased her confidence. Photo: Melanie Louden. Opposite left: Lizzie Collenette paints using a head pointer. It’s made us all feel more confident in who we are and demonstrates that we are all able to be creative in some form. Māpura Studios is based in central Auckland with satellite groups in other areas. It is administered by Panacea Arts Charitable Trust and funded by grants and programme fees. The studio also runs the Māpura Online Artists programme ensuring that people around the country benefit from the creative arts process. For more information go to www.mapurastudios.org.nz.