Lately, I’ve found myself resonating with a line from Lou Reed’s Velvet Underground days:
“Well, I’m beginning to see the light.”
Though Reed’s words may have come from a different place entirely, the sense of slow-building euphoria in those lyrics feels fitting as I find my way back to the light at the end of my own tunnel. We’re in the home stretch now, preparing for the final Handshake 8 exhibition, Materialise.
On a personal note, the last few months have felt like a re-emergence for me. There was a time when my creative fire dimmed and every effort felt monumental. It was as if I was moving through a darkness that, frankly, I wasn’t comfortable with. While I won’t rush to find a silver lining, there’s something to be said about the cycles of resilience and learning how to navigate life—particularly as I enter a new decade. The existential hammer hits harder than ever! And yet, I’m holding onto the awareness of my privilege, knowing how many in the world endure unimaginable pain and suffering from war, famine, and human injustice.
With all that in mind, I am truly grateful for the support from the Handshake program, orchestrated by Peter Deckers, and the incredible teachers we’ve been fortunate to learn from. Special thanks to Catalan maker and educator Estela Saez-Vilinova, who brought us her amazing energy and wisdom from across the seas in countless Zoom sessions.
This year, I’ve had the privilege of working with my mentor, Renee Bevan. I first encountered Renee during my Whitireia NZ days (2012-2015) through her PUSH/PULL workshops, where her teaching methods, layered thinking, and care for each individual deeply resonated with me. Having her as a mentor this year has been transformative. Her dedication has helped me refine my practice, especially as we’ve worked closely in these final stages to ‘pull’ my work together. Renee’s generosity with her time and mastery of refinement have opened my eyes to new ways of testing and curating my ideas—a real honour to witness firsthand.
As we near the conclusion of our two-year Handshake journey, it’s bittersweet to know that we are the final iteration of the project. But Handshake is not entirely lost—it’s evolving. The mentorship framework will continue under the name Object Maker Aotearoa, expanding into other contemporary object-based arts disciplines.
Stay tuned for details of Materialise, running from November 8, 2024, to February 16, 2025, at The Arts Trust House (Pah Homestead) in Auckland. We’re also thrilled to announce our participation in Nelson Jewellery Week in April 2025. Keep an eye on the Handshake website and Instagram (@handshake_8nz) for updates!