CARRIE EDGERTON: ‘MY SILENT SPACE’

Otago photographer Carrie Edgerton says she enjoyed art at school but chose to channel her creativity towards socialising when she was a teen and battle her type 1 diagnosis instead. ‘I spent years in denial and hating being different. I just wanted to fit in like everyone else. But after a while, I needed to find a space of peace and focus. To find my love for creating again.’

Carrie has a background in painting, but six years ago she bought a camera and challenged herself to learn how to manually take photos. She completed two courses in Cromwell through Stagebox. ‘I learnt so much. I love how the camera and choice of light can alter how a simple item can be viewed and the different feelings that are felt through one image by multiple people.’ The courses certainly paid off last year when Carrie won three categories in the Arrowtown Autumn Festival photo competition.

Living in Otago, Carrie is surrounded by natural beauty, and she enjoys spending as much time as she can among it with her camera. ‘Walking and hiking has hugely increased in my life the last 10 years, and I find it also helps with balancing out the creative side with the nature side. I’ve completed a number of great walks both on manual insulin and now on a pump. Again, this is now my silent space.

‘Art helps me re-focus and puts me in a brighter happier space to tackle any challenges diabetes can throw my way on any given day.’

‘Creating definitely makes me focus on the here and now, and clears my mind of the constant thoughts and decision-making that diabetes can sometimes flood my brain with. I find it my calm quiet space.’

JINNY GIBBONS: ‘BEING TAKEN AWAY TO A DIFFERENT PLACE’

Ten years ago, Jinny Gibbons was in an abusive relationship and working long hours as a caregiver. Early starts, coupled with physically demanding work, resulted in a spinal injury, severe burn out, and pre-diabetes, likely ignited by her poor diet at the time. ‘I was getting very sick, so something had to change.’ First to go was the partner, closely followed by the unhealthy food that wasn’t helping her. Over time, she regained her strength, lost a third of her weight, and sent her pre-diabetes into remission.

Like Carrie, Jinny had immersed herself in art when she was younger but hadn’t returned to creativity until she was adult. It wasn’t until she was recovering and receiving intensive healthcare that Jinny picked up her art again, at the suggestion of a doctor who admired her work so much that he ended up purchasing a piece. Jinny rediscovered her love of creating and hasn’t looked back.

Jinny says the humble ballpoint pen is her favourite medium at the moment. From her selection of pens, she is able to create fine work, often on large pieces of paper and in many coloured inks. Animals and native birds have been taking the stage in the last couple of years and Jinny finds her references both online and from family. She has an agreement with Wellington nature photographer, Sally Eyre (Eyre’s Eyes) to use her beautiful captures of native birds for reference. Jinny’s brother and eldest sister also supply inspiring photos.

Because Jinny’s work is intricate, layered, and detailed, she says it can take a long time before she’s happy to step back and say it’s finished. ‘Some of my art can take up to three months to complete.’

But she’s happy to let her art guide the way as it helps her mental health. ‘I can spend six hours at one time on my work. It takes me out of myself and what’s going on at the moment. It helps me to destress, and I love trying new things.’

‘I’ve been studying different methods for the last couple of years. I’m self-taught, and I love it! I’ve tried different media, but I just love working in coloured biro pens.’

ANNA SHARPES: ‘A WAY OF LIFE’

There are many accomplishments to Anna Sharpes’ life. The Wellingtonian has run a sewing school, designed dancewear (including a line for pole dancers), and been the life-saving, last-minute dress alteration angel for brides-tobe and bridesmaids. She’s also featured as a finalist in the World of Wearable Art show (WOW).

Anna’s first had a garment accepted into WOW in 2018, a year before she graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in fashion design from Massey University. Created for the Transformation section, Bloom is exactly that – a giant flower that the audience witnessed gradually opening. But, coming from someone living with type 1 diabetes, there are deeper undertones. ‘Bloom touches on depression. The petals both shield and protect, and the soft, delicate, and fragile interior suggests emotions.’

This year, Anna created Dia-beat-this (right), a garment made utilising insulin pump waste packaging from 500m of tubing and 300+ infusion sets. Unfortunately, it wasn’t selected as a finalist, but Anna says she is looking forward to planning next year’s submission as well

as the hundreds of hours' work that each garment demands.

‘It’s so time consuming. You’re looking at 700–800 hours at least, and that’s just in evenings and whenever you can cram it in. It’s a passion project, a way of life!’

Currently, Anna and her husband are living amid a major house renovation. ‘My lovely husband just puts up with the whole living room being taken up by something. I’ve got many projects on the go, but I like being busy.’