Henry Sunderland
Foundation Studies Programme Leader
Ext. 8417
sunderlandh@cpit.ac.nz
"Our primary focus in art and design education today should be about empowering students to think laterally, analyse critically and express creatively."
Henry is one of the School's more colourful characters. After graduating from the Wellington Polytechnic Design School in 1974 he entered the world of art and design as a commercial interior artist, creating such cultural icons as 'Stags at Bay' sandblasted onto glass doors.
Since then Henry has worked as a graphic designer, an illustrator, a television presenter and a teacher. He has been leading the Foundation art and design programmes at CPIT since 2001.
Throughout his career, Henry has been dedicated to making art accessible and fun. Students on Henry's courses enjoy visits to local marae and artists' studios. Throughout the year, they are also involved in creating a piece of 'public art'. In 2002 students worked with younger artists as part of Kidsfest to create 'The Plastic Peace' a fantasy garden constructed from recycled bottles on Mills Island in the middle of the Avon River. A further project, initiated by tutor Henry Sunderland and his students over the past two years, has been to design a series of colourful, tactile therapeutic toys. These are gifted to the Christchurch Special Needs Library to stimulate learning in children with special needs.
Amongst his numerous interests and passions, Henry holds a particular affection for gnomes. Recognised as a world authority, he lectures internationally on their mythology and history. Henry describes the essence of this work as a gnomologist as "stimulating thought and debate on issues such as kitsch, good and bad taste, community public art and environmental concerns. As an 'artcar artist', illustrator, art teacher, creative mentor and public speaker, I like to spread the principles of environmental care using the acronym G.N.O.M.E; Guarding Naturally Over Mother Earth."
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