Wild Creations is an extension of a residency programme that ran from 2002-2012. This saw 24 artists develop work across a range of art-forms including craft/object, photography, film, mixed-media, literature, music and theatre.
Photographer Fiona Pardington, who speaks at today's Wild Creations launch, was one of the participants. She has fond memories of living in a garage in Kingston, at the end of Lake Wakatipu, during the winter months.
"The air was pristine, the lake enchanting. My boy, Jack, insisted on jumping in and went blue! He is always adventurous and I had warned him it was cold ... but there's no cold quite like a winter Wakatipu. He didn't try that again!"
Pardington photographed the high bush where locals say patupaiarehe (fairy-like beings) lived, the greenstone-bearing rivers around the Dart and Cameron's Flat, named after her father's family.
"It was a life-changing experience, one that allowed me to grow even closer to and more knowledgeable of the whenua I knew and loved as an Ngai Tahu artist."
She would recommend Wild Creations to any artist, saying it sparks the heart and imagination. Other participants say it enabled them to investigate and use different materials, helped them better understand specific environments and cultural issues and led to changes in the way they work.
A growing body of international research points to health, wellbeing and creativity boosts that getting out into nature offers. Musician Lorde recently told RNZ's Kim Hill how natural and historic heritage inspired her breakthrough album Pure Heroine.
"I go to Fort Takapuna - there's a weird old fort there and a lot of old guns and [it's] very grassy and verdant and I feel like that sort of became the palate of the record."
Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage and Conservation Maggie Barry will launch Wild Creations at Fort Takapuna in Devonport this morning. Artists are able to apply to CNZ from today for one of its three spots.
