A successful career photographer, it was only in the 2020 lockdowns that Porirua-based artist Mel Waite started branching out to explore new artforms. From there, Mel made her very first foray into exhibiting her artwork at none other than the NZ Art Show – and the rest, as they say, is history. This year will be Mel’s fourth show.
Mel takes time out of her busy schedule (which comprises juggling art-making, running a thriving photography business and university study) to give us a sneak preview of what she’s working on as she gets ready for the show. Read on and watch the video…
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I live in Porirua, New Zealand, with my partner, Craig, and our cat, Monster, working in my custom-built, home-based photography studio.
One way or another, I’ve been working with a camera for most of my adult life (and some of my teenage life too, if we’re being specific!). I started experimenting with object-based art and fell in love with the process – and this experiment quickly grew into something much bigger.
Now, my art career sits nicely alongside my photography career – and on any given day, you’ll find me photographing people, things, object and knick-knacks, creating both timeless portraits and intricate artworks.
While I love nothing more than to use my skills as an artist and photographer to create things that bring people a little bit of joy, I’m also a massive comic book geek (Marvel over DC any day). I prefer Star Trek to Star Wars (though will watch either because they’re both just so good) and I try my hardest to not take myself too seriously (although I often fail at this).
How long have you been art-making – and what drew you to it?
Much of my photography career (25+ years) has almost exclusively focused on capturing people – from family photos and weddings, to branding and corporate shoots – and then… enter 2020.
Covid lockdowns meant that photographing people wasn’t an option, so I took the opportunity to direct my photography skills in a new direction.
How, when and why did you get involved with the show? What keeps you coming back each year?
The Art Show was actually the first place I ever publicly exhibited my artwork. I applied to be part of the 2020 show. I was completely oblivious to how hard it can be to get in and just thought to myself, Let’s see what happens!
This coming show will be my fourth. I will be forever grateful that the team saw the potential in my work.
What role does the NZ Art Show play in your year/artistic practice?
Because all the artists release new work at the Art Show, it gives me an amazing deadline every year that helps drive the creative process for new work. I think of the NZ Art Show as my artistic New Year’s Day.
Through the show I have met so many wonderful people and talented artists who have become very dear friends and have formed part of a support network that has led to many other opportunities and creative endeavours.
What are you most looking forward to about being part of this year’s show?
There are many things about the NZ Art Show that I look forward to, but without a doubt, one of the things at the top of my list is to catch up with all the other artists and see what wonderful things they have created over the past year. No doubt a few will be going home with me!
What does a typical day in the life look like for you right now as you get ready for this year’s show?
My days are very full at the moment. On top of preparing for the NZ Art Show, I’m also running a full-time photography business, studying part-time at university and planning for a few other exhibitions that are coming up this year.
My days typically start at 6am with a workout, followed by a couple of hours studying – and about a gallon of coffee. I then switch my focus to my photography business with the aim of fitting in a few hours’ creative practice in the afternoon before rounding out my day with more photography work.
Dinner is normally very late in our house – around 8.30 or 9pm – as once I’ve eaten dinner, I hate to go back to work (unless it’s unavoidable).
What’s motivating and inspiring you?
One of my core reasons for being and what gives me the greatest joy is creating things that bring other people happiness. Like many artists, creating art pieces is only one aspect of how I express this need. It can be as simple or as quick as whipping up a batch of cookies, or as complex as some of the art I’m currently working on.
Without giving too much away – what are you working on right now for the show?
I have my two main ongoing bodies of work that I have added pieces to for the NZ Art Show. The first is the Aotearoa location series that I’m well known for, and the second is my Kintsugi leaf series.
On top of that, I also have some new pieces that I’m working on that I think will either fascinate people or potentially make them feel a little uncomfortable, but will sit nicely alongside my botanical pieces – though you’ll have to wait until the Art Show to see them!
Is there anything new or different about the work you’re getting ready for this year’s show – and any sneak previews you want to share?
I’m well known for producing round pieces of work presented in very simple white frames – I really do love a circle! However, in my new work I’m experimenting with some other shapes and finishes.
How does art help you ‘get lost’?
For me, it isn’t about getting lost – it’s more about finding myself. My art is an expression of where I am – both in the world and in my mind – at a fixed point in time. The pieces of art that I collect also serve as a snapshot of how I was feeling and where I was at the time they were collected.
