EXHIBITION 2023: Marsden Artist in Residence – Marci Tackett

23 June - 9 July 2023

C.M.Y.CAKE

Serves: Endless Variations

Marsden's 2023 Artist in Residence is Marci Tackett, a multi-disciplinary artist and printmaker.

Highly accomplished and with a wealth of experience in teaching and artistic practice, Marci was born in Denver, Colorado, and has lived and worked in New Zealand since 2006. She has received numerous awards and artist residencies in both New Zealand and the USA, including the Annual Fellowship Award from Kala Art Institute in Berkeley, California, and the Merit Grant Recipient for a residency at the Vermont Studio Center.  Marci's work has been displayed in exhibitions around the world and in 2019, 2020 and 2022 she was a finalist for the New Zealand Painting and Printmaking Award.

In addition to her impressive artistic accomplishments, Marci has also taught at The Learning Connexion in Lower Hutt, where she developed and expanded her interdisciplinary art practice. Her collaborative, interactive exhibition entitled Selective Memory, which she created with fellow printmaker Toni Mosley, was shown at Railway Street Studios in Auckland in 2019.

Marci loves the process of making art and being a member of a culture and community invested in nurturing the development of the creative process in all people.

During her 6-week residency at Marsden Marci had use of a designated studio space in the Art and Design department known as the "Art House". She mentored and instructed students in a wide range of themes, culminating in this exhibition in the Academy Galleries that includes her body of work, as well as some of the student's art. One of the key messages that Marci tries to instill in her students is that "they are in charge of their own creative journeys ultimately and that by learning to observe and analyse their processes they will improve their outcomes and they will have an exciting time doing it!"

Through programmes such as the Artist in Residence and other creative initiatives in the school, Marsden seeks to inspire young learners to aspire to be creative thinkers who can think outside the norm, visualise new solutions, and make a difference in the world of tomorrow.  Our Head of Visual Arts, Kathryn Cotter says, "We are so lucky to have the Artist in Residence programme which brings high calibre visual artists to the school to engage with our students to explore new approaches, media and techniques. The opportunity for akonga to work alongside practicing artists, asking questions, discussing ideas and developing their skills is invaluable and it brings a real energy to the Art House. Another bonus is being able to observe the artist's creative process as they develop a series of their own artworks for exhibition, from concept right through to the finished work, and this is really useful especially for those in our senior classes. I love seeing students pop in to see what's new, to ask for advice or just have a quick chat with the resident artist about artmaking and careers in the visual arts. It is always a very exciting time for all of us in the Art House."