Wendy Grace Allen (nee Dawson)
Wendy Grace Allen (nee Dawson)
I grew up in the beautiful, dramatic, wild, confronting landscape of New Zealand. In my art practice I like to explore ideas that intrigue me, comment on the world around me, find creative solutions to problems, and respond to the physicality of using a variety of art materials by combining materials in new and dynamic ways. The Border Crossing Art Project is one of the ways I am connecting with people cross culturally.
I have lived and worked in several locations around New Zealand and in Australia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. In 2008-10, I curated The Border Crossing Art Project, exhibited in The International Art Expo Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, participated in The International Drawing Marathon and exhibited Reborn, at A2 Gallery in Penang, Malaysia. I was the selected artist for the 30 Day Artist Project for November 2009, and successfully completed a short residency programme at Art Glass Solutions in Singapore and a three and a half month Artist-in-Residence programme at the Ban Pao Rural Art Centre, North-East Thailand earlier in that year. In February-March 2010, presented Rural Go Go, a solo exhibition at Jamjuree Art Gallery, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. Also in February-March 2010, The Border Crossing Art Project – collaborative touring exhibition, workshop and forums was presented at The Art Center, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand and will tour to The Light Square Gallery, Adelaide South Australia in September, 2010.
Creative thinker
Curator of collaborative projects
Experienced at living and working cross culturally and collaboratively
Competent at working across many media and performance art
Experienced art educator
Arts writer
Qualifications
2000 Graduate Diploma of Teaching Secondary (Art & Art History), Massey University, New Zealand
1999 Master of Visual Arts, University of South Australia, Australia
1995 Diploma of Fine Arts (3 yrs full-time), Otago Polytechnic, New Zealand
Current and Recent Projects
2008-'10 Curator and artist, The Border Crossing Art Project
Feb – Mar 2010, The Art Centre, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok Thailand
Sep -Oct 2010, Light Square Gallery, Adelaide, South Australia
2010 Rural Go Go, solo exhibition, Jamjuree Art Gallery, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok Thailand
2009 30 Day Artist Project (November)
2009 Art Expo Malaysia – Arteri Project
2009 International Drawing Marathon, Penang
2009 Artist in Residence – Art Glass Solutions, Singapore
2008-'09 Artist in Residence – Banpao Rural Art Centre, Thailand
Selected Exhibitions
2009 Reborn, A2 Gallery, Penang, Malaysia
2005 Night and Day, Centre of Contemporary Arts (CoCA), Christchurch
Lady in her Purple Boudoir, mosaic mural, commissioned by Square Edge Arts Centre, Palmerston Nth, NZ
2004 Blue and White Abstract, mosaic mural, commissioned by Square Edge Arts Centre, Palmerston North, NZ
Paintings and Sculptures “Winter Arts Festival”, Rydges Hotel, Palmerston North, New Zealand
Retro C.V., Solo Exhibition, Square Edge Arts Centre, Palmerston North, New Zealand
2003 Otago Fine Arts Society Exhibition, Dunedin, New Zealand
2002 Once upon a Time in a Fishbowl Gallery, Collaborative Installation with architect Richard Sellars
Fishbowl Gallery, Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology, Nelson, New Zealand
Artists Book Exhibition, Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology, Nelson, New Zealand
2001 Postcards, Nelson Arts Festival -Installation in window of House of Travel, Nelson, New Zealand
2000 Ray Charles presents …, The Space Gallery, Wellington, New Zealand
1999 Masters Graduating Exhibition, South Australian School of Art Museum, Adelaide, Australia
1+1, Tin Fish Gallery, Adelaide, Australia
1998 Skimming, Adelaide Fringe Festival, FAD Gallery, Adelaide, Australia
Paper Sites, Adelaide Fringe Festival, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
1997 Young Artists Exhibition, West Torrens Thebarton Library, Adelaide, Australia
1996 Cultural Diversity Project, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
1995 At My Table, DFA Graduating Exhibition, Forrester Gallery, Oamaru, New Zealand
Norsewear Art Award, Waipukurau, New Zealand
WOW, Wearable Art Awards, Nelson, New Zealand
Cup and Saucer, group show with Jeff Thompson, Moray Gallery Dunedin, New Zealand
1994 WOW, Wearable Art Awards, Nelson, New Zealand
Performances
2002 Dialogue, in collaboration with composer Ian McDonald, Performed in response to Colin McCahon’s “Toss in Greymouth” painting – Suter Gallery, Nelson, NZ
40-hour paint-athon performance and exhibition to raise money for World Vision – Nelson City Church, NZ
1993-'02 Various solo and collaborative performances in New Zealand and Australia including performing with Alex Danko at EAF Gallery, Adelaide, Australia
Awards
1995 Finalist in Painting Section, Norsewear Art Award, Waipukurau, New Zealand
Curator and Artist: The Border Crossing Art Project
Solo exhibition Rural Go Go, Bangkok, Thailand
Exhibitions in Thailand, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand
wendy@wendygraceallen.com
Member Profile
Wendy Grace AllenIn my art practice I like to explore ideas that intrigue me, comment on the world around me, find creative solutions to problems, and respond to the physicality of using a variety of art materials by combining materials in new and dynamic ways. My art can be broadly categorised into concept-driven work and aesthetic/expessive work.
I grew up in the beautiful, dramatic, wild, confronting landscape of New Zealand. I have lived and worked in several locations around New Zealand and in Australia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, and enjoy engaging in cross-cultural dialogue through my art. The Border Crossing Art Project is one of the ways I am connecting with people cross culturally.
In February-March 2010, The Border Crossing Art Project collaborative touring exhibition, workshop and forums was presented at The Art Center, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand and will tour to The Light Square Gallery, Adelaide, South Australia in September.
Also in February-March 2010, I presented Rural Go Go, a solo exhibition at Jamjuree Art Gallery, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
