Art, Psychology, and All That's in Between: An Interview with Michelle Genders
/Michelle is a wonderful artist and psychologist,
based at Nauti Studios in the Blue Mountains.
We asked Michelle some red hot Qs to get a behind the scenes look at the world,
and inspirations behind her and her amazing work.
A bird’s eye view of Michelle in her space at Nauti Studios Blue Mountains.
Mindful art by Michelle Genders.
Mindful art by Michelle Genders.
Tea or coffee?
Both – I’ve been really into “dirty chai” (coffee shot plus spices!) lately – Black Cockatoo in Lawson do a great one.
Sunrise or sunset?
Both – I love the quality of the light during these two golden hours of the day and the sorts of adventures that one could be having at those times. For example, at dawn you could be getting off the overnight train in a new place (as we did once when travelling in India) and at dusk you could be heading home from busy day in the city with a view out the window of acres of forest (as I often do while living the Blue Mountains).
What scares you?
As a person with the traits of ‘Sensory Processing Sensitivity’ and ‘Hyperphantasia’, I have always been pretty sensitive to images in films that many people find funny or easy to forget but I find terrifying and can’t get out of my minds eye. When I was a kid, these included ‘Ghostbusters’, ‘Gremlins’, ‘Goonies’, ‘Indiana Jones’, ‘Little Shop of Horrors’, ‘Neverending Story’, ‘The Dark Crystal’. Having said that, I also have the trait of ‘High Sensation Seeking’ so I also kinda like the feeling of being out of my comfort zone enough to be a little bit scared!
A beautiful nature installation series by Michelle, using found materials and “mindfully selecting materials from the immediate environment and installing them in a meaningful site”.
The installation out front of Nauti Studios Blue Mountains! So pretty!!!
When did you start making art?
One of my first memories is drawing, painting and making craft with my Nan in her tiny art studio that overlooked Tuggerah Lake. We spent a lot of time there once she retired from teaching and devoted herself to being an artist. We also went to workshops and exhibitions as part of the ‘Tuggerah Lakes Art Society’ together when I was a child. I also remember my great Aunty Myrtle teaching me how to knit and crochet while the 1988 Olympics was on TV in the background.
What inspires you and your work?
I’m a creative contemplative artist in that I make art as a meditation, as a contemplation, an act of kindness, as a prayer, and as a way of investigating and understanding my own nature and the nature of the cosmos. And just for the fun and joy of it!
What’s your fav thing about Nauti?
The sense of space and light in my studio/gallery is amazing. It is my special space to escape to!
The people, plants and pets are key as well. Everyone is so creative, down to earth and up for a laugh. I so enjoying seeing the varied greens of the plants as they unfurl and extend. It is also lovely to see the cats settle in and grow into their own personalities. There are many curious things happening from here and I feel lucky to be part of this unique space!
The front page of a drawing Michelle did for ‘dyst’ journal. This was drawn with her right hand using a mechanical pencil.
The back page of a drawing Michelle did for ‘dyst’ journal. This was drawn with her left hand using cheap markers.
Michelle’s work on the cover of 'dyst' journal. A great journal produced by Rosey Ravelston bookshop, who are also based in Nauti Studios in the Blue Mountains. For this cover Michelle combined her two drawings as “when I placed the right page on top of the left, as an action to integrate my right brain and left brain, to integrate practicing art and practicing psychology“.
What is the artwork you are most proud of?
This year, I was officially a cover star! (See images just above)
My work was included on the cover of 'dyst' journal (produced by fellow studio mates Rosey Ravelston bookshop) amongst some quality dystopian and political literature and see more of my art inside. The cover drawing was created in 2020 during my daily art making project with the theme "What inspires me?" during the subtheme of "What inspires bee?". The back page (yellow) was drawn with my left hand using cheap markers. The front page (pink) was drawn with my right hand using a mechanical pencil.
I was feeling particularly split that day between my fascination with art making and the skills I was developing as a psychologist. When I placed the right page on top of the left, as an action to integrate my right brain and left brain, to integrate practicing art and practicing psychology, a shift did take place.
This, amongst other practices and investigations, did help me to figure out the undercurrent that underlies both interests as well as accept the complexity of these two expressions of self.
I loved seeing this work placed on the cover of 'dyst' so that it's meaning expands further in line with the theme of this literary journal. I was even more excited to hear that it is the first edition of ‘dyst’ that has completely sold out!
What are you working on at the moment?
I am organising a series of exhibitions within my studio as part of a tiny gallery called ‘Nix’ .The first exhibition 'The Deep Scarlet Red Project' has been successfully completed. The second exhibition called 'One's Own Abode' has just opened and is going really well. It is so special to see the art and poetry honoured by having them up on the walls and available for viewing.
The exhibition is open 10am to 4pm on select weekends:
Dec 10, 11
Dec 17, 18
Jan 6, 7
We have so far covered the red and orange 'chakras' and will be continuing up the body through all of these energy centres with exhibitions in 2023 as follows:
Exhibition 3: For the bees (yellow): January
Exhibition 4: Halcyon days (green): March
Exhibition 5: Big as life (blue): May
Exhibition 6: Luck was on my side (indigo): July
Exhibition 7: A thousand petals (violet): August
I welcome people into the gallery while I'm minding it. We can also arrange an online tour via Zoom - just send me a message.
Drawing by Michelle, using tiny post it notes and bottles of ink in response to shape prompts.
By Michelle Genders.
Michelle’s entry for a drawing competition with the theme of ‘Regenesis’.
Michelle said “Regenesis requires both an inner spiritual transformation of how we see ourselves, and an outer transformation in how we act. It builds on the regenerative agricultural movement, and the move to a regenerative economic and societal frameworks to meet the challenges of our times and is aligned with Council's Planetary Health Initiative.”
If you weren't an artist & psychologist, what would you be?
Ha this is a funny question because - I came to the conclusion in 2021 that as hard and complex as it is, I HAD to be both an artist and psychologist! I tried doing just one of them at a time but in the end, they are both important parts of what I appreciate about and what I am able to offer to the world.
Sometimes I’ve felt like my brain is going to explode trying to juggle these two aspects of what I have been fascinated with throughout my life. But my heart and curiosity is big enough to continue on with both and to know that I will never be bored and will always be developing this way.
It might seem a bit whacky to be keeping up 2 x pretty full on careers but I’m starting to get clearer on which parts of each industry I’m most passionate about and want to put time and energy into. How one part feeds the other part, and vice versa.
Having said that, if I had the courage and charisma, it would be fabulous be a rock star who can sing and express a story in front of huge crowds. Maybe one day – because I do continue to develop my voice by being a part of community choirs and other singing projects.
Have any artists changed the way you see the world?
Some of my favourite artists who are very well-known include:
Georgia O'Keeffe
Bridget Riley
Hilma Af Kilmt
Patricia Coleman-Smith
And, because I majored in the area of ‘contemporary jewellery and object’ at art school, I have a special interest in artists who make in this area including:
Helen Britton
Julie Paterson
Lisa Walker
Margaret West
Also, my partner Robin Hungerford is an incredible artist. Seeing the process of how his work develops and progresses is a great joy.
Additionally, I am particularly influenced by my teacher, mentor and friend John F Simon Jr who has been drawing every day since the 90s, and Noah and Mica Scalin who run the daily creative challenge called ‘Creative Sprint’.
But, I have learnt something from every one of my teachers and peers including Joyce Hinterding, Nick Bastin, Oliver Smith, Karin Findeis, Bridie Lander, Melinda Young, Evan Wills, Deborah Haynes, Kelly Heaton, Lisa Cordero etc etc ! (there are so many people I know who put so much into the art they make that I would like to honour and draw attention to here) 😊
If you could have dinner with anyone dead or alive, who would it be?
Elvis Presley and I have similar taste in food (hahaha!) and I actually wouldn’t mind having a go at being his therapist AND collaborating with him to make something spectacular.
Along similar lines, it would be so fun to dine with all of my favourite female singers – KT Tunstall, Joan as Policewoman, Roisin Murphy and Ani DiFranco – for one evening. They are all incredibly smart, funny and creative women – so I would probably a little star struck! I imagine we could go to one of my favourite restaurants in Surry Hills – Maya Indian.
I also have a soft spot for actor Gael García Bernal (from for example ‘Mosart in the Jungle’) because he seems like a very kind and thoughtful person and I think maybe I could become part of what I imagine is his big extended family.
Michelle hanging work in her space at Nauti Studios Blue Mountains.
