Making resources for low vision children
ANZA supports IC2 Prephouse – a social enterprise for helping low vision children. Volunteer to make tactile books – with accompanying braille – so that kids can read and learn about their environment. ic2.com.sg
Arts workshops in hospitals
Singapore General Hospital run weekly art and craft sessions, provide concerts and music therapy. If you are a crafty performer, or just want to help out with the weekly workshops, you can find information here: www.sgh.com.sg/about-us/arts-for-health/pages
National Arts Council (NAC)
NAC needs volunteers to help run their exhibitions and events, wrangle artists, publicise, photograph, or help plan the programmes. www.nac.gov.sg/
Kids with disabilities
Very Special Arts (VSA) is a charity that promotes creativity in people with disabilities – they run performing and visual art classes on a regular basis, as well as school holiday workshops. You can help the teachers and the students in these classes or lend a hand with administrative work. www.vsa.org.sg/volunteers
Child’s play
Love working with kids? Volunteer as an artist or scientist or help facilitate sessions at Playeum Children’s Centre for Creativity at Gillman Barracks. Donate goods or materials or help out with sessions. www.playeum.com/volunteer
The pressure is on to find a restaurant that ticks a few boxes. It’s Father’s Day and a catch-up with an aunt stopping over in Singapore, and we have our eight-year-old in tow. Scouring Google, I decide on famed Aussie chef Luke Mangan’s relaxed “semi fine dining” flagship restaurant, Salt Grill and Sky Bar, located close to the hotel where my aunt is staying.
First timers might need a map to find the entry to the restaurant, which is accessed via an unassuming front desk in busy ION shopping mall. Once you’re in the lift up to the restaurant, the appeal is clear. An optic illusion makes it feel like we’re soaring above the clouds as we ascend to the 55th level. Stepping out into the restaurant is magical. From every floor-to-ceiling glass pane there is a stunning view of Singapore – and we’ve got a front row seat with a window table.
As the view twinkles down into night lights, we focus on the food – and it’s pretty special. Not only do they have an appealing kid’s menu (tick) but they bring out a wooden board to show my husband the impressive cuts of meat on offer (tick, tick). Our table tries a bit of everything, and no-one gets a case of food envy. The spelt and pearl barley risotto pops with fresh, spring flavours of peas, broad beans, gremolata and shavings of truffle pecorino. The Cape Grim pasture fed rib-eye with sides of creamy mashed potato with truffle butter, and bitter leaves with orange and verjuice is also declared a winner.
My aunt’s perfectly-cooked Cone Bay Barramundi with cuttlefish, citrus and herbs and a tasty kids carbonara pasta declared yummy by Miss Eight round out one of the best fine dining experiences I’ve had to date in Singapore. Because it’s a special occasion, we also try a few desserts, with the delicate, moreish petit fours the stand-out.
Verdict: If you’re looking to impress, Salt is a slam-dunk. Great service, sweeping city views, and thoughtful, well-prepared cuisine.
Salt Grill & Sky Bar
2 Orchard Turn, #55-01 ION Orchard 238801 www.lukemangan.com/restaurants/salt-grill-sky-bar-singapore/
This mobile art studio runs brilliantly inventive kids arts classes all over Singapore. Art leader, Zaki will come to you, bringing everything your little artists need to whip up colourful creations and boost their artistic confidence. Great for birthday parties, school holiday boredom busting, and more. Zaki also runs regular Art in the Park sessions – outdoor classes held under shady trees on the East Coast Park. www.facebook.com/sgwarungseni/ instagram.com/warungseni
Cabaleiro Art School
Artist Patricia Cabaleiro teaches workshops and abstract acrylic painting classes for adults in Singapore, Germany and Austria. Beginners paint together with advanced students in an inspiring and fun environment, learning about colours, different techniques and honing your individual style. Look out for Patricia’s short courses, and unleash your inner Picasso. www.cabaleiroartschool.com
Goodman Arts Centre
There’s a ton of art workshops to choose from in this rambling art precinct, which includes kid-friendly restaurants, Café Melba and La Barca. Head to the ceramics centre for lessons in making pottery, try your hand at batik panting, paper marbling, mosaic glass art, clay family fun, mandala art or tribal art painting. Swing by on Saturdays and Sundays for Weekends at The Artground – drop-in programmes for families and children to engage in together. These thirty minute sessions include arts and crafts, and other creative pursuits like storytelling, music, dance, movement and theatre. $10 per parent-child pair. www.goodmanartscentre.sg/events
Sip & Paint, Merchants Wine Store
Art and wine lovers will relish the popular Sip & Paint Series held at Merchants Wine Stores in Duxton Hill and Joo Chiat. The fun evening class encourages inspiring artists to let loose over a canvas, and plenty of vinos! Classes are scheduled 2 and 26 August and cost $68 (the ticket price includes art supplies, apron and a generous, guided wine-tasting of a range of boutique Australian and NZ wines) merchantsofsingapore.com.sg
Sg Art Class
If you’re looking to dabble in lots of art mediums, then SG Art Class can help. They run mobile and studio classes with expert teachers. Try your hand at cartoon and comic drawing, graffiti, Chinese calligraphy and brush painting, manga, digital drawing, photography, decoupage and more. They also offer art therapy, corporate and group bonding workshops. sgartclass.com
How has the AFCC helped you become a children’s book author?
The AFCC has been instrumental in my journey to becoming a published author. At the festival in 2015 I first connected with my editor, Sarah Odedina. In 2016 at AFCC, I pitched an early draft of The Missing Barbegazi to her, and then I submitted the manuscript and signed with Pushkin Children’s Books in early 2017. AFCC sessions featuring brilliant writers and publishing professionals have inspired me and helped me improve my writing craft.
Tell us about your debut?
It’s adventure story about an eleven-year-old ski-racing girl who must save one of the last barbegazi (mythical snow creatures) from a deceptive elf hunter, all while the health of her grandmother deteriorates. It’s a book about trust, the power of hope and the magical bonds of family. The book is set in the Austrian Alps – a place that’s been my second home for many years. My sons used to practise with the children’s ski-racing team there, and I spent hours watching them and daydreaming about fantastical creatures.
You will launch the book with your publisher Sarah at the event?
Yes! It’s immensely exciting! I very much look forward to our joint session, where we discuss author-editor collaboration and talk about all the stages of the book’s development, from that first pitch session to the book launch at this year’s AFCC.
What’s next for you?
My current project is another standalone middle grade novel. It’s about a twelve-year-old Danish girl who moves to Singapore to live with her father and his new family. In addition to her real life concerns – dealing with her step mum, starting a new school and finding friends – the girl becomes embroiled in an adventure that explores otherworldly elements from Singaporean and Chinese myths.
I’m also in the process of relocating from Singapore to Switzerland. It’s quite ironic that I wrote a book with snow and avalanches while I was in Singapore, and now I’ll be writing about the tropics in a place with fresh, dry air, and a high likelihood of snow before I finish the novel.
What’s one piece of advice you have for aspiring children’s book writers?
Read! Read contemporary books written for the age range you’re writing for. It’s not enough to depend on the books you remember from your own childhood. And keep writing. Never give up.
Join in!
Interested in creating books or other content for children? The AFCC holds both public and conference sessions and Singapore is this year’s country of focus. Sign up for talks, workshops and masterclasses, visit the book fair, enjoy performances, and meet children’s book authors and illustrators. For more info: afcc.com.sg/2018
The ANZA Writer’s Group meets every second Tuesday of the month, 7pm, ANZA Office, 47A Kampong Bahru Road, 169361.
New Zealand artist Jennifer Chalklen didn’t put brush to canvas until she moved to Jakarta five years ago. The mostly self-taught painter has since shifted to Singapore, been awarded an NPE Art Residency for contemporary artists, and exhibited her work in a solo show at the LUDO Gallery at the Visual Arts Centre. She talks to Pip Harry about how and why she made the move from digital marketing for a ski and surf company, to an artist’s studio in Joo Chiat.
Where are you from originally?
I spent my childhood growing up in a little rural town just outside of Tauranga, New Zealand and lived in Wellington, before moving to Asia. I now live on the East Coast with my husband and three kids Taylor 11, Meya 9, and Archer 5, and a fur-kid Sansa, a rescue puppy that we adopted from Causes for Animals. We’re coming up to three years living on the little red dot.
Where did your love for art begin?
I have always loved art and as a kid I was very creative: sewing and drawing in an abstract way. But I didn’t select art as a subject in school, instead I went into rowing training, and more academic subjects.
Art wasn’t your first career?
No, I worked in digital marketing for clients like Huffer, Billabong, Rip Curl, Solomon, Quicksilver, Ski Himalaya and Playstation. I did a bit of everything: writing weekly surf reports, developing advertising copy and making animated gifs.
When did you first start painting?
I only started painting portraits and doing figurative work when I was living in Jakarta about five years ago, and I stubbornly decided to teach myself how to paint portraits in a realistic style with oil paints. I had a lot of images and ideas in my head, but I didn’t have the technical ability to transfer them onto canvas, and I wasn’t able to say the things that I was feeling or wanted to express, so there was a big gap. I learnt by Googling stuff, YouTube videos and trial and error. It’s still a constant learning curve.
What do you like about being self-taught?
It gives me a kind of self-governance over my artistic direction, what I’m learning, what I’m saying and how I’m saying it. Plus, I really dislike authority and being told what to do, so formal classes don’t really work for me in that sense. But I need to be always learning new skills or trying something new
How do your surroundings inspire your current artwork?
After visiting New Zealand, my paintings become greener, and trees and animals find their way into my work. My colour palette is more vibrant in Singapore than the muted tones I was using in Jakarta, which were almost the same colour as the sky from the constant congestion. I found visiting Tokyo incredibly inspiring – it was complex, frustrating and confusing at the same time, a complete sensory overload.
There’s almost photographic detail in your work – are you personally detail orientated?
No! Which is why my painting style is still a surprise to me. My personality type is quite chilled out, messy, and disorganised. My desk is usually a disaster zone. I always thought I would be an awesome abstract painter wearing overalls, covered in house paint, using big bold brush strokes, which I think is more representative of my personality, but my work doesn’t come out in that way.
Describe the process you go through to develop a painting?
Normally a painting will develop in my peripheral, after glimpsing an image, a person, or a dream, and it will stay there for a while. If I don’t get it down, it will slowly vanish like the memory of a dream. I then gather reference images from live models that I photograph, or artist reference images online and then start to develop the work. My style is visual extension of my thoughts, ideas and experiences, it is almost like a form of meditation or prayer on a canvas.
Where do you like to work?
I work in my Joo Chiat studio, which is a space that feels like mine, outside of being a wife or a mother. I can exhale as soon as I walk inside and it allows me to get into the headspace I need to create. Also, our apartment does not have the space to make a mess, so to save my marriage, it’s much better to keep things separate.
What’s next?
I’m also in discussions with a gallery owner and another artist to open up a new gallery space in Singapore in the next few months, which would be great. We’re currently looking for property, so hopefully the real estate gods will shine on us in a favourable way.
Contact Jen through her website www.jenniferchalklen.com or Instagram @the_secret_art_gallery
In a bid to learn more about Singapore’s traditional art scene and get into the countryside, I’ve joined a group of fifteen intrepid ANZA Tour members on the Journey West tour; heading to Thow Kwang Pottery Jungle in Jalan Bahar, then onto Bollywood Veggies for lunch. As we arrive at our first stop, tour guide Gek points out a family of wild boar grazing on the nature strip. It’s clear we’ve left the urban jungle behind.
Mouth of the dragon
The family-run Thow Kwang Pottery Jungle (85 Lorong Tawas via Clean Tech View, thowkwang.com.sg) is home to Singapore’s last firing dragon kiln, and the island’s largest variety of porcelain and pottery ware – a vast collection of earthen pots, colourful Peranakan bowls, and blue and white china.
The brick, wood-fired kiln, built in 1940, roars to life only a few times a year these days, taking 24 hours to reach a blistering 1,260°C. As the dragon is currently sleeping, we are allowed to step inside the 36-metre belly of the kiln, where a few thousand pieces of pottery are loaded in for each firing.
At its height, the kiln would be fired four times a month, going through a steady cycle of packing, firing, cooling and unpacking. “From the 1940s to 1970s, there was a thriving pottery industry in Singapore, with 20 dragon kilns in production, and Jurong’s white clay considered ideal for producing the cups used for the numerous rubber plantations on the island,” says Gek. “When the rubber plantations closed, there was demand in the 1970s for orchid pots. Unfortunately over the years, all but two of the kilns have shut down.”
Preserving traditions
With their lease up in 2021, and redevelopment looming, Thow Kwang and other Singapore cultural icons need continued support to preserve their legacy. “You need a lot of manpower and it’s much more time-consuming than gas or electric kilns, so why bother?” Gek asks the group. “The answer is that the ashes interact with the pottery and glaze, so each piece is different. That’s what the artists are after – the unique variations in colour and texture. Also, it’s a tribute to old Teochew and Chinese traditions.”
“You start digging a little deeper and you find all this traditional industry going on in these little hidden pockets in Singapore,” says tour member Fay Ford. “It is a real shame there isn’t the demand for this style of pottery firing, even though they still have the facilities here and the volunteer manpower. If it dies out because of infrastructure changes, it will be a shame, because it will gloss over important Singapore heritage.”
Bollywood bound
Laden with pottery purchases, we head for our second stop on the tour: rustic Bollywood Veggies (100 Neo Tiew Road, www.bollywoodveggies.com) To get to the organic farm we travel along heritage-protected Lim Chu Kang Road, lined with thick angsana, mahogany and rubber trees. The Heritage Road Scheme was launched in 2001 by the National Parks Board, to conserve the scenic and significant tree-lined roads of Singapore.
Bollywood is a 10-acre slice of green paradise, away from the bustling CBD, which runs educational programs, cooking classes and farm tours. It’s owned by eco warrior Ivy Singh-Lim and her husband Lim Ho Seng, ‘farmpreneurs’ who believe in sustainability and connection to the land. We happily potter through tropical fruit orchards, butterfly sanctuaries, medicinal garden beds, and more.
Escaping the heat of the day, the group gathers at Poison Ivy, Bollywood’s farm-to-table restaurant to enjoy a delicious Indian fusion feast, finishing with fig tea and moreish banana cake. As we make our way back to Singapore’s condos, skyscrapers and busy streets, it’s nice to know this heavenly rural patch still exists in Singapore.
ANZA Tours runs regular excursions to all corners of Singapore, uncovering its hidden treasures. Book here: anza.org.sg/tours
1. Sky Mirror, Anish Kapoor, 2010
Location : Lily pond at ArtScience Museum
This elegant stainless steel, reflective artwork from a Bombay-born British sculptor, sits in calm lily ponds overlooking Marina Bay, reflecting the sky and the iconic lotus-shaped ArtScience Museum.
Fast fact: Sky Mirror weighs a whopping 1,800 kilograms!
2. The Bird, Fernando Botero, 1990
Location: UOB Plaza near Raffles Place
It’s hard to resist stroking the chubby feet of this very sweet, very plump bird, created by famed Colombian sculptor and figurative artist Fernando Botero. Made entirely of bronze, it represents peace, serenity, and joy.
Fast fact: Another Bird can be found outside the airport in Florence, Italy, with the same weighty proportions.
3. Nutmeg and Mace, Kumari Nahappan, 2009
Location: ION Orchard
This iconic two-tonne bronze sculpture is an interpretation of an opened nutmeg seed. It connects the mall with its past as a nutmeg plantation in the 1930s and is symbolic of trade prosperity.
Fast Fact: Nutmeg and Mace, as well as Urban People and Panda Family are part of CapitaLand’s extensive public collection in Singapore, which includes sculptures, murals, mosaics, stained glass, paintings and calligraphy. art.capitaland.com
Courtesy National Arts Council
4. First Generation by Chong Fah Cheong, 2000
This exuberant bronze statue group shows five boys leaping into Singapore River. The sculpture acts as a reminder of simple pleasures and highlights Singapore’s transformation over the years, with the river now surrounded by towering skyscrapers and hotels.
Fast Fact: Other bronze statues The River Merchants, From Chettiars to Financiers and A Great Emporium are located nearby and are part of the People of the River sculpture series.
5. 24 Hours in Singapore, by Baet Yeok Kuan, 2015
Location: Front lawn, Asian Civilisations Museum
This interactive audio sculpture installation of five stainless steel balls is more than meets the eye. Local artist Baet Yeok Kuan has incorporated familiar sounds of daily life in Singapore, from traffic in suburban heartlands and MRT trains, to the chatter in wet markets and coffee shops. With the passage of time, this sculpture will become a slice of history.
Fast fact: Kuan’s distinctive sculptures can be found in many public spaces in Singapore.
6. Panda Family by Julien Marinetti, 2013
Location: Westgate Mall, Jurong
The Panda Family features four pandas sitting in identical poses, with the father at the head of the group. The subject hints the proximity of Westgate to the Chinese Garden, whose pagoda and pavilions are prominent landmarks of Jurong.
Fast fact: The colours splashed on the pandas have meanings: orange and red for the sun, pagoda and pavilions; blue for water and sky; and green for nature.
7. Reclining Figure by Henry Moore, 1983
Location: OCBC Centre
This monumental, semi-abstract bronze sculpture was created by famous British sculptor, Henry Moore, whose work often features female figures in recline. It’s position by the water makes it even more serene and striking.
Fast fact: Measuring over 10 metres in length, Reclining Figure is one of the largest sculptures that Moore has ever created.
8. Urban People by Kurt Laurenz Metzler, 2009
Location: ION Orchard
Commissioned specially for ION Orchard, this set of six caricatured urbanites invites shoppers to hold their hands, give them high fives or link arms. Their bright colours and poses with shopping bags, briefcases and newspapers capture the vibrant shopping and business district of Orchard Road.
Fast fact: Look closely – the woman in purple is carrying a silver shopping bag with an ION Orchard logo.
Courtesy of the National Arts Council
9. Pedas, Pedas by Kumari Nahappan, 2006
Location: National Museum of Singapore, Fort Canning Entrance (Level 2 Exit)
In this commission by the National Museum, artist Kumari Nahappan represents a common local ingredient: chilli. Standing at almost four-metres tall the artist used chilli to reflect Singapore’s multicultural society – as the ingredient is found across many Asian cuisines.
Fast fact: Nahappan pursued a successful interior design career before studying fine art at the Lasalle College of the Arts, Singapore and Masters of Fine Art from the RMIT University, Melbourne.
10. Jelly Baby Family by Mauro Perucchetti, 2012
Location: Plaza Singapura
These colourful pop art style resin sculptures at first seem cute and cuddly, but the Jelly Baby Family series stems from Perucchetti’s interest in cloning and his mixed horror and fascination with the possibility of cloned human beings. Do their smiles look more sinister now?
Fast fact: The Jellies have toured the world – being exhibited in London, Paris and Rome, before finding a permanent home in Singapore.
Once you’ve seen a Louise Hill artwork, it’s hard to forget. A kaleidoscope of bright pastels, intricate patterns, vintage Asian themes, photography and illustration, they’re completely unique, and the perfect memento of time spent in Singapore. The London born artist is accustomed to expat life; she lived in Paris from age six to 10, spent a couple of years in Melbourne, and then had stints in Shanghai, Hong Kong and finally, Singapore. She now resides in a “modest” Black and White house in Medway Park with her husband Ryan and teenage twin boys, Ezra and Jude.
First brushstrokes
Louise studied art and design at two London art schools before joining her father’s design company as an apprentice. “I cut my teeth there, focusing mainly on wine label and spirits packaging design. I worked from the ground up and can still remember being nervous about calling a printer for the first time to specify points and picas (design measurements) – we didn’t work with computers in those days.”
From there, Louise spread her wings in the corporate world. “I spent a few years at Crabtree & Evelyn, then Marks & Spencer, followed by Ian Logan Design for several years, where I finally did learn to use a computer! Then I took the opportunity to go travelling for a while, when the design industry hit a bit of a downturn at the very end of the 90s.”
The Melbourne connection
Louise set off with a backpack and her now husband Ryan. “We travelled from India along the Spice Route to Australia for a year out. However, instead of returning home to the UK as planned, Ryan got a job and we ended up in staying in Melbourne for three years.” The couple set themselves up in the hip, artistic suburb of Fitzroy and Louise freelanced as a graphic designer and worked part-time as a guest lecturer at RMIT University. “I was actually quite terrified at the prospect, as I’m not comfortable in the limelight and I felt utterly out of my comfort zone, but I really enjoyed my time with the students.”
Shanghai surprise
When Louise fell pregnant with her twin boys, she felt a longing for home and family. “At five months pregnant we left Australia to return to our little seafront apartment in Brighton.” But after a couple of years of double duty parenting the couple had itchy feet once more. “We were drowning in twin feeds, nappies and hyperactive boys, so we eagerly accepted a job for Ryan in Shanghai,” remembers Louise. “We were craving more adventure and the promise and privilege of help from an ayi!”
As she raised her boys in Shanghai, Louise dabbled in logo design for fellow expats, but struggled with the language barrier as she dealt with local printers. “My Mandarin really only stretched as far as the market and the taxi driver. So I decided to think of another way to have my own business that would also be portable.”
Finding her niche
After a move to Hong Kong, Louise wanted to work from home to be with her boys, so she initially tried her hand at bag design, before coming up with the idea of creating prints that reflected her surroundings and Asian culture. “I designed my ‘Hong Kong Ferry’ print, sold it to a couple to friends, who told me they would love to see more! I then realised that I had a good small business model.”
Inspired by living in Shanghai, Hong Kong and now Singapore, Louise creates digital mixed media artworks that are layered, vibrant and textured. “I instinctively take inspiration from my own surroundings and daily life observations, so I started with Hong Kong themed designs followed by Singapore when I moved here. I love to add in the colours, patterns, favourite places, buildings and cultural curiosities we enjoy as foreigners living abroad.”
The perfect keepsake
A Louise Hill print has now become a must have for expats leaving Singapore and Hong Kong. “A lot of people say that they see something different each time they look at the design, something they hadn’t noticed before; they love the vibrancy and uplifting nature of my work. Many people say that they simply bring back lots of happy memories of the place that they used to call home. I have also sold to local Singaporean customers who enjoy the celebration of their culture.”
Louise’s work is available on her website www.louise-hill-design.com
“We met at the airport for the start of our astonishing journey. We were full of energy and enthusiasm for what we knew was coming later, and we hopped on to the plane with excitement. When we reached our destination, the cool Perth air was refreshing, compared to the Singapore heat. On arrival, we drove to our Scarborough hotel, overlooking the beach and ocean. This spot is popular with surfers, although none of the team braved the ocean. It was absolutely magnificent! After some amazing pizzas, we were all absolutely exhausted before the tournament had even started.
The next day was an early 6.30am start! We were so thrilled for the day ahead of us. When we reached the State Netball Centre for the championships, we found our first court and started to warm up in the cold. The 45 outdoor courts were occupied with close to 270 teams from all over Western Australia, as well as a few teams from Singapore participating. There were age groups from U12 upwards, with a range of divisions in each age group. The games were great to play in the crisp open air. We put in our best and went through the rest the day with smiles from ear-to-ear. Although it was cold, we had a tent just for our team and the parents who had accompanied us, and we were well prepared with our personalised ANZA blankets and tracksuits.
Highlights and tough matches
After a quick freshening up later in the evening at the hotel, we went to a restaurant near the Perth Netball Arena. The highlight of the day was when our teammate Zara represented ANZA in the opening ceremony, and we then got to watch a live match between WA Fever and the Sydney Giants. It was a wonderful experience and we danced in our seats in the stadium, along with many other netball teams.
The next day flew by. We played another three tough matches, but as always it was fun. When we got back to the hotel we luckily had some spare time in between the end of the matches and dinner, so we decided to go to the pool. The water was freezing cold, but we still went in and played water polo with a couple of other hotel guests. After this we went to a lovely Thai restaurant, with amazing food bursting with flavour.
On Monday, after our last match, we packed up, and then dined at a riverfront restaurant on the way to the airport. While the four action-packed days in Perth went by so quickly, I loved every single minute of it. From the weekday training sessions leading up to the tour, buying the ‘merch’ and of course one of my biggest achievements of the weekend: my ‘cleanest room’ award I won with my roommate Zara! All jokes aside, I reckon the best part of this whole experience was being able to share it with all my new friends, and sharing every loss, every laugh and even every nap in between matches.
A big thanks!
Thank you to Coach Eva, Coach Jocelyn and Team Manager Jo, and all the parents for their time and effort, including the fundraising and organising for this lovely experience. All the team members received various individual awards over our time in Perth, and I would like to finish by quoting Alice who was quite famous for her hilarious acceptance speeches: “I would like to thank my legs for supporting me, my arms for always being by my side, and my fingers because I can always count on them!”
SIGN UP for ANZA Netball’s 2018/19 season, commencing 1 September and your little netballer could experience exciting travel and playing opportunities like this! For more info head to anza.org.sg/sports/netball/
As a senior school art teacher, who worked in the UK and then international schools in Asia, Samantha Carle is the ideal candidate to guide visitors at the STPI Creative Workshop and Gallery (www.stpi.com.sg) “I usually guide two or three times a month,” she explains. “I’m part of a team of amazing voluntary docents. I give one-hour tours of the current gallery show, and behind the scenes at STPI’s creative workshop for general visitors. I also give private tours. But the majority of tours are student tours for local and international school groups, as part of STPI’s Education and Outreach programme.”
Meeting new people
The mother of two boys (Harris, 10 and Hector, 7) Carle moved to Singapore with her husband two and a half years ago, after living in Hong Kong and Japan. She initially joined the docent program as a way to make new friends. “As I was new to Singapore, joining the docent training programme was a brilliant way to meet people, make new friends and feel more connected to Singapore.”
Carle began by attending an open lecture at Friends of the Museums (FOM), a volunteer, non-profit society that offers guiding services and other forms of partnership to nine of Singapore’s museums and heritage institutions. “I found out more about the range of museums that you can volunteer at in Singapore. As well as STPI, you can train to be a docent at the Asian Civilisations Museum or the National Museum, and many other institutions.”
Training up
She signed up for the required eight weeks of docent training and hasn’t looked back. “The training included lectures on art history, guiding adults and students, as well as workshops with the artists to learn print and paper making techniques. There’s a great deal of reading and written work to do in preparation for your first one-hour tour.” Carle stresses you don’t have to be an expert to become a guide. “It certainly helps to have a background in art and design to guide at STPI, but it’s not essential.”
Connecting with the art community
Carle loves how her role has opened up new connections in Singapore. “In training and working at STPI, I have met expats from all over the world and made Singaporean friends too.” She also enjoys meeting the artists. “Each year, a number of artists are invited to live and work at STPI. It’s a total privilege to be able to see their work in progress, before it’s shown in the gallery.”
Being around great art is a joy for Carle. “The current show is work from the National Collection by James Rosenquist, Jasper Johns, Roy Lichtenstein and Robert Rauschenberg. It’s amazing to be able to see historically important artists up close and personal in a small gallery context. There’s nowhere else in the world like STPI and I feel very lucky to play a small part in its journey.”
