John Cornish was born in Wellington, New Zealand, in 1960 and now lives on the Kapiti Coast.
He taught art at a tertiary institution for 17 years and continues to teach privately.
John came relatively late to the visual arts, having come from his own business in the hugely creative and rewarding field of landscaping. Landscaping gave John an appreciation of the creative process and the imperitive for an artist to fully explore and understand their materials.
The love of the physical act of making/creating, the honouring of materials and the space they create, occupy or determine, added to the curiosity of what might be possible, straddled the disciplines to a point where these aspects are isolated and underpin his ongoing artistic practice.
John gained a Diploma of Art and Creativity (Advanced) from the Learning Connexion in 2008, studying under Peter Adsett and Mary Alice Lee
“In landscaping I totally had to know and understand what I was handling (materials). At art school my thinking was reinforced -we have to build a relationship with our materials - I mean, it’s just like getting to know someone - sometimes it can be a quick chat, but generally we can learn a lot about each other if we at least allow a conversation, it’s worth giving a bit of time to figure out how you’re meant to work together”
From his own experience of arriving relatively late to art making, John came to realise how important it is to acknowledge everything that has helped inform us as to who we are and to bring that with us when we come to creating whatever it is we choose to create.
“ We don’t just turn up and think that’s where it all starts , our lived experiences, our developed sensibilities all play a part in what we create. Having said that, creating from oneself is potentially one of the hardest and bravest things to do but ultimately it’s also one of the most rewarding! ”
While gaining his formal tertiary art education, John satisfied himself in his ability to render a likeness of what he saw, and to translate what his imagination provided him with and still enjoys this aspect of making, but there are times when he likes saying something ‘without saying it’.
“ I’ve never liked being put in a box or being labelled, so why would I do that to my students. We’re all different and all work differently, my job is to help make my students engagement as personally relevant and sustainable as possible”
Well - being is a big deal to me. When we’re creating primarily for ourselves, and doing what we really enjoy doing it makes us feel good. Art making is in fact incredibly therapeutic. I might have sorted out how I work, and what drives me, it took a while and there is always change,but the last thing I want to do is create clones - I want to help people find what they’re meant to do, and what that might look like!
John’s teaching approach therefore is all about the individual, helping his students discover what is relevant to them ,and building from there, offering technical support and a broad knowledge gained from working and teaching in both representation and abstraction.
“I encourage my students to be curious, to ask ‘what if’. This can be slightly problematic for the risk averse, but I guarantee a safe and supportive environment to let that happen !”.
Qualifications:
Diploma of Art and Creativity ( Advanced) 2008, The Learning Connexion
Exhibitions:
2024
Paekakariki Community Trust Art Show Group Show, Paekakariki Kapiti Coast
2023
Arotake Toi / Mahara Arts Review, Waikanae
2022
D.O.W no.3 , 23a Egmont Street, Wellington ,presented by PAULNACHE Turanganui-a-kiwa Gisborne
Mahara Gallery Fundraiser, Invited Artists Group Exhibition, Seagrass Gallery, Otaki Beach
D.O.W no.2 (Dept.of Works Collective), Five Walls Gallery, Melbourne, presented by PAULNACHE , Turanganui-a- kiwa Gisborne
2021
D.O.W no.1 (Dept.of Works Collective), PAULNACHE , Turanganui-a kiwa Gisborne
300x300 Group Exhibition NZAFA fundraiser, Wellington
2020
Mancave Group Exhibition for Prostate awareness, Schmid Gallery Martinborough
100 Days - A Journey, Group Exhibition Mahara Gallery, Waikanae
NZAFA Members Autumn Exhibition , Group Exhibition, NZAFA, Wellington City
2019
Huakina Group exhibition, Invited NZ Artists and NZ Prisoners, Expressions Gallery, Hutt Valley
100 Days - A Journey, Group exhibition, Tutere Gallery and Creative Space, Kapiti Coast
Paekakariki Community Trust Art Show Group Exhibition, Paekakariki, Kapiti Coast
Local Showcase Group Exhibition, Tutere Gallery and Creative Space, Kapiti Coast
2018
Think Inside the Square Group Exhibition, Artel Gallery,Kapiti Arts Trail
Festival of Architecture pop-up exhibition invited solo site specific exhibition, Civic Square, Wellington City
Humbugaa Group Exhibition of Site-Specific works, a joint venture with 6 Visual Artists and 6 Victoria University of Architecture Masters students, Hataitai Bowling Club,Hataitai,Wellington City.
Paekakariki Community Trust Art Show Group Exhibition, Paekakariki, Kapiti Coast
TLC Staff and Tutor Exhibition Odlin Gallery ,H.A.S Lower Hutt
2017
Kapiti Regional Art Show Group exhibition,Tutere Gallery and Creative Space,Kapiti Coast
Canvas 100 Group Exhibition,NZAFA, Wellington City
2016
Wellington Regional Art Review ,Group Exhibition, Expressions Gallery, Hutt Valley Selected Finalist
Tutere Gallery and Creative Space - Opening Exhibition Group Show,Kapiti Coast
2015
TLC Staff Exhibition
2013
NZAFA Annual Members Exhibition
Parkin Drawing Award Inaugural event Selected Finalist
2012
Memory TLC Staff and Tutor Exhibition, Expressions Centre of Art and Entertainment, Hutt Valley
2011
Practice What You Preach, TLC Staff and Tutor Exhibition, Taita Campus
2010
Pic n’ Mix TLC Staff and Tutor Exhibition, Taita Campus
2009
III Exhibition with Deborah Hinde and Julian McKinnon,Thistle Hall Gallery, Wellington City
2008
Negotiation of Space Advanced Diploma Graduand Exhibition
2006
Garden Sculpture Exhibition Group Outdoor Exhibition, 174 Ngarara Road,Waikanae
The Art of Simplicity with Susan Knaap, NZAFA, Wellington City
2005
Evidence TLC Staff and Tutor Exhibition,Turnbull House,Wellington City
NZAFA Summer Exhibition, and NZAFA Winter Exhibition Group Exhibitions
2004
NZ Society of Potters Sculptures and Pots for the Garden Exhibition Group Exhibition
Garden Sculpture Exhibition Group Outdoor Exhibition,174 Ngarara Road,Waikanae
New Zealand Affordable Art Show
Collective Group Exhibition St James Theatre,Wellington City
2003
Insiders Guide to Happiness Paintings as props in the Television Series, Gibson Group
2002
Art to the Power of 11 Group Exhibition,St James Theatre, Wellington City
2000 - 2004
TLC Student Exhibitions
