Jani Cullen Profile

about the work of Jani Cullen.

Biography

My artistic energy at the moment is thoroughly taken up by raising my daughter Eva, 1 year old. And just in case this isn’t enough, I also have got myself deeply involved with the Armidale Art Gallery voluntary team. Primarily my role has become to submit the monthly press release and ad in the paper, as well as manage the bi-monthly newsletter. I am quite useful in an organisational role and I enjoy being involved in the local art scene in my own small way.

I moved to Armidale early 2007. I slotted myself into the TAFE Art Diploma course, interested in widening my sculptoring experience. With much technical help, I made a permanent steel and timber structure situated in the Armidale TAFE grounds. It is totally different from anything else I had ever done and therefore hugely satisfying.

I completed a Bachelor of Contemporary Art majoring in Ceramics at Southern Cross University in 2001. I cannot say I went so well at uni because whilst I am able to make beautiful objects, I was almost always hopelessly tongue tied when it came to explaining what the work was about. If made to choose, I would actually claim myself as a craftsperson rather than an artist, as I am much more interested in the process over the meaning.

I have dabbled and delved into many types of craft for as long as I can remember. Such as being given a beading loom on my seventh birthday; wonderful for keeping fiddly fingers ever busy. I have taught beading classes in the past on the NSW north coast, and may start again here in Armidale.

This same skill, finely tuned dexterity, earned me my most satisfying job to date; working as a seamstress for high end clothing designer Anna Middleton in Byron Bay. Unfortunately, finding a similar such job here in Armidale seems to be an impossibility.

I still count myself as a ceramicist, but admit to being one of those artists who hasn’t actually made anything for years now. Unless, of course, you include Eva!