| Background | Ancient Images, Modern views Biography |
Born into a family of artists helped to rouse my strong creative drive to draw from as far back as I can remember. My father, Russell Williams, was a well known artist from the Hawkes Bay area in the sixties, as was his great grandfather, William Mein-Smith a few generations earlier. Mein-Smith was also New Zealand 's first surveyor-general, responsible for surveying the first site for Wellington . My two brothers are also practicing artist today. When I was six years old my family moved to my mothers native country, Norway , and it was here I won my first art prize at the age of nine. After seven years in Norway we moved to Brisbane , Australia where I later studied at art college in both Brisbane and Hobart. In 1987 I graduated with a degree in Naturopathy, which has been my bread and butter ever since. Then In 2003 I completed another degree from the University of Queensland in anthropology, a subject which always held great interest for me. Due to my fascination in this area I have spent extensive periods of my life traveling to 'off the beaten track' places like Hopi and Navajo reservations and the Anasazi cliff dwellings in the USA . I have also lived and worked in Mexico and Guatemala , where I studied Spanish and worked on a Mayan dig in Honduras . Since coming to New Zealand I have been working in the New Zealand film industry as an artist on the film set of King Kong in Wellington , as well as work as Art Director on short local films in Christchurch . I see my art as a synthesis of my rich and varied life experiences, and look forward to its ongoing evolution as my life evolves into ever increasing circles of exploration and discovery of this amazing place called earth. Working from a variety of media including acrylic paint, pastels, clay and printmaking I draw my inspiration from a number of sources with a strong emphasis on indigenous cultures and ancient civilizations. Through the passing of time objects and buildings gather power, sacredness and mystique. It is this enigmatic presence that surrounds ancient temples, portraits and art objects created by long forgotten people, which I try to evoke in my paintings. Through this process, I explore the concept of time and its' effect on how we perceive ancient objects and buildings. This art process transports me far back to a time when the earth, the stars and the moon were sacred, and where magic and ritual were part of daily life, and when the most cherished possession was not money. Most of today's indigenous cultures have retained many of these important values, emphasizing spirituality and respect for the environment rather than economics. Sadly, our Western culture seems to have traded these values in for an over-rationalized, materialistic and technologically "advanced" world view resulting in a soul-less society which alienates its citizens evident in the high rate of mental disease. I would like to see my art as a celebration and a reminder of the magic that exists in all of life, both ancient and modern. ART & RESEARCH EXPERIENCE 2005 Art Director and Extra for 'The Devils Game' Trailer
2005 Artist, Painter and Signwriter
King Kong Film set, 2004 - Art Director for K'Lexia, the Trailer. 2003 - 04 Artist and Research Assistant
1991 - 01 Director/Artist Anasazi Arts Brisbane Australia
2001 Co-manager in Jade Gallery 2001 Field Worker in Honduras (University of Qld project)
2000 Archaeological Illustrator/ Research Assistant.
1999 Artist/Sculptor 1994 Artist/Muralist
ART EXHIBITIONS, COMMISSIONS AND PROJECTS 2007/2008 Working on Virtual Reality DVD (http://virtualincubator.org.nz/) as Art director launch in July 2008 2008 Exhibited at South Canterbuy Art Society Awards. Recipent of Merit Award. 2007 Art exhibition: Artma Spritual Art Gallery, Timaru NZ. 2005 Art exhibition: E-Cafe, Christchurch Art Centre, Christchurch, NZ. 2004 Art exhibition: Espresso Coffee Lounge, West End, Brisbane. 2003 Group Art exhibition: 2002 Commission: Dancing Chillies, 1998 Group (family) Art exhibition, Norwegian Club, Brisbane. 1997 Infinity and the Mind II Group Art exhibition, The Rocks, Sydney. 1997 Infinity and the Mind I Group Art Exhibition, Katoomba, NSW. 1996 Collaboration on Jenny Kee mural in Blackheath, NSW.
BIBLIOGRAPHY 2003 Artwork published in Diversity Matters Magazine (Qld gov)Australia 2003 Article and artwork published in The South East Advertiser, Brisbane, 2003 Article about exhibition in Norsk Nytt Newsletter Australia 2003 Article published about paintings and art exhibition in BEMAC Magazine 2002 Biographical article published about my art in BEMAC Magazine. 1997 Art work published on cover and in Golden Age Magazine. Australia 1996 Art work published in Golden Age Magazine. Australia 1985 Art work published in Transforming Art Magazine. Australia
EDUCATION / TRAINING Diploma in Professional Interior Design 2007 FUSE Art Business Initiative 2004 Bachelor or Arts (Anthropology) 2003 Certificate in Sculpture and Printmaking 1996 Certificate in Art Therapy 1987 Bachelor of Naturopathy & Practitoners Diploma in Herbal Medicine 1987 Diploma in Art and Design 1981
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