Catherine Day

I live and work on a small holding at Gladstone, Wairarapa along with my husband, Pat White. I divide my time between working in my studio, teaching music and working on our land. We grow our own beef, raise chooks for eggs, grow olive trees for our own oil, and various nuts – almonds, walnuts, pine nuts and hazelnuts. We maintain a vege garden and produce our own firewood for the wood burner which heats our water as well as our house in winter.

In 2009 I graduated from Massey University with a Masters degree in Fine Arts. My artistic practice employs drawing, film, sounds and photography. In early 2010 an encounter with one of the Moeraki boulders led me on a journey of discovery with the nature of surfaces – not only rocks but wooden surfaces where the tracks of living creatures have left their marks. Using layers of coloured pencil on paper I make contact prints of these patterns, effectively creating a second skin.

Making the artwork Pacific reef (2010) at Mataikona, on Wairarapaʼs East Coast. This drawing was part of my exhibition Findings in 2011. (600mm x 6.2m)

In 2011 I held my first solo exhibition, Findings, at Aratoi, Wairarapa Museum of Art and History. This consisted of drawings on paper, along with three short films. One of my drawings, Jarrah was purchased by the gallery for their collection. Last year I was awarded the Cutlers-Caselberg Emerging Artist Residency at Broad Bay, Dunedin. I was also Artist-in residence at Wai-te-ata Press, working on hand printing a special limited edition of Pat’s poetry. Our collaborative book, Gnossienne (Wai-te-ata Press, 2012) features my contact prints alongside the poems.

Jarrah (2011), contact print using pencil on paper (680mm x 2150mm) Rail I

I am a pianist and singer. In the past few years I have become involved in working with choirs and individuals, as a conductor and vocal coach. I teach piano/voice at two local colleges as well as taking private pupils at home.

Rail I – VIII (2010) Contact prints, pencil on paper

Riverbed (2011) Pencil rubbing of crack in concrete floor, foyer at Aratoi, Wairarapa Museum of Art and History (600mm x 13 m)

Ruamahanga (2011) river stones

Contact print of old floorboard, featured in Gnossienne (Wai-te-ata Press, 2012)