We have a wonderful new Arts Facilitator!
Please welcome Cherie to the team! She’s taken up the important role and will be responsible for facilitating all things Art!
As always, we like to get new volunteers to introduce themselves in the EFP, so we asked her questions and here are her answers!
Tell us about yourself!
I’m a 34 year old she/her, born and raised in Auckland. I’ve been Kiwiburn adjacent for many years, but life getting in the way a bit made 2023 my first Burn!
I’m an extroverted doer of a person – I love helping people and getting shit done!
What does the Arts Facilitator role involve?
Smoothing the pathway for artists to do what they do on the Paddock! Helping the Arts teams (KAC, ARTery, Burnable Arts, Mutant Vehicles) and contributing to ExCom. Hopefully we can extend beyond the Paddock and support Burner art in our local communities too!
How do you spend your time when you are not doing things related to Kiwiburn?
I’m a Research Scientist at the University of Auckland – Lecturing undergraduate Chemistry and researching for a wide range of analytical and physical chemistry projects.
I have quite a few hobbies that I enjoy! I love rock climbing, creating art and playing the trumpet.
Being involved with Kiwiburn can take a lot of energy. How do you re-energise?
I recharge by spending time with my friends, family and my cat Beans!
I also unwind by doing my arts – playing music in the big band, embroidery and painting.
What skills have you learned by being involved with Kiwiburn?
I’m not sure about skills… but I’ve learned a lot about people by being involved with Kiwiburn – this is such a welcoming and open community where people feel very free to be their weird and wonderful selves! This means that I have been able to learn from and about some very unique and creative people from all kinds of backgrounds.
What has been your favourite moment at a Burn?
My Kiwiburn23 joyful sunflower Sunday gift – The idea was to spread joy on Sunday, a day that is hard for most Burners. Hung over, engaged with Temple, sad that it’s nearly over, people could do with some extra joy on Sunday!
I wore a Sunflower costume with a very silly large sunflower hat, I had a big orange butterfly kite and crochet sunflowers badges with bumble bees as gifts to give – After the difficult weather, knee deep mud and civil emergency in Auckland – i was overjoyed to wake up on Sunday morning to a beautiful sunny day with was wind for my kite! I got to bring smiles to a lot of faces and it was lovely to see people sharing my badge gifts with others who needed the joy too!
What are you most excited about for Kiwiburn 2024?
Being so involved in the Art side of things this time around is really exciting for me! I’m looking forward to all the creatives I will get to meet by being the Arts Facilitator.
