Carmen is a professional glass artist, tutor and mentor, working from her rural studio in Whanganui, New Zealand.
Her glasswork predominantly employs the lost wax casting technique and she is widely known for her sculptural dress forms. Carmen’s glasswork is collected and exhibited throughout New Zealand and internationally.
Since graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2002, Carmen’s art practice has evolved from explorations of dress and textile to express women’s individuality, into rediscovering and emphasising the handcrafts associated with historical garment making processes. She has consistently crossed mediums in order to create her glass sculptures, predominantly with cast bronze, aluminium, pewter, natural fibres and soft materials.
In 2013, Carmen completed a Master of Art and Design. The associated research highlighted how themes and art making processes consistently reoccur within individual art practices. Within Carmen’s studio practice these reoccurring processes are crafts such as needlework and crochet and the use of threads and stitching. Whilst she continues to create her signature dresses and figurative production works, Carmen’s current sculptures are narratives that combine evocative glass techniques with mixed media, as a means of complimenting and enriching the form.
In 2022, Carmen founded Re-storyz (an online DIY and in-person workshop company). Created in reaction to environmental concerns and the Covid-19 Pandemic. Re-storyz enables artists to reach out to students, through online and real-time workshops, mentoring and glass making support where they are connected to a professional working studio. Considering the environment is a very important aspect of Re-storyz and sustainable practices are built into workshops where possible.
1397 Brunswick Road, RD1, Whanganui, New Zealand 4571
EXPERIENCE
Current
Studio based glass casting tutor. Teaching all aspects of lost wax casting, glass theory and basic cold working skills.
2016 - 2019
President of the New Zealand Society of Artists in Glass.
2011
Whanganui Glass School - Summer School 2011, Tutor for Casting Workshop.
2010
UCOL Diploma of Glass Production and Design – Lecturer of 1st year warm glass.
UCOL Certificate of Art and Design – Assistant Lecturer Sculpture
2009
Whanganui UCOL Summer School of the Arts, Tutor for Colour and Texture Casting Workshop.
Basic Glass Casting Workshop, Morrinsville, New Zealand.
Glass Tutor Bachelor of Fine Arts Year 1.
2008
UCOL Diploma of Glass Production and Design – Lecturer of 1st year core casting workshop (2 week class).
2007
UCOL Certificate of Art and Design - Lecturer in basic kiln casting and coldworking techniques (full year).
UCOL Diploma of Glass Production and Design – Lecturer of 1st year core casting workshop (2 week class).
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Fine Arts - With Distinction in glass - UCOL, Whanganui, 2002.
Certificate in Adult Teaching (Advanced) - UCOL, Whanganui, 2010.
Post Graduate Diploma of Art and Design - Auckland University of Technology, 2012.
Master of Art and Design - Auckland University of Technology, 2013.
AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
Akoranga Trust Scholarship, 2001.
Akoranga Trust Scholarship, 2000.
Mixed Media and Innovation Award, NZSAG Conference, 2014. Award of Distinction, 43rd Art Festival, Beth-El, USA, 2015.
The CoLab Conference Mixed Media Award, New Zealand, 2019.
COMMISSIONS
2003 War Memorial Hall Commemorative Project
Cast Glass Column, Anzac commemoration. Whanganui, New Zealand.
PUBLICATIONS
2018
Glass 3. The James Della Collection. Pages 250-251.
2010
New Zealand Glass Art. The New Zealand Society of Artists in Glass publication. Bateman. Page 149.
2009
The Gravy: Series 4 Episode 10 – Whanganui. TVNZ Channel 7
2006
Ranamok Glass Prize. Pages 68-69.
2004
Craft Arts International: Number 62, 2004, Beside the Tasman Sea P91-92.
SELECTED GROUP AND SOLO EXHIBITIONS (2013-Current)
2020-21
29th Wallace Art Awards 2020. Finalist. New Zealand.
2020
Whanganui Arts Review. Finalist: Sarjeant Gallery, Whanganui, New Zealand.
NZSAG Members Show: New Zealand Glassworks, Whanganui, New Zealand.
2019
Believing Is A Beautiful Thing, Solo Show, Space Gallery, Whanganui, NZ.
The Arts Gold Award, Finalist 2019, Alexandra, New Zealand.
The CoLab Conference Member Exhibition: Whanganui, New Zealand.
2018
Contemporary Glass Society, UK, Collaborate, juried online exhibition 2018.
2017
Whanganui Arts Review Finalist: Sarjeant Gallery, Whanganui, New Zealand.
2016
Light + Form Exhibition: NZSAG Conference, Pah Homestead, TSB Bank Wallace Arts Centre, Auckland, New Zealand.
Light + Form Travelling Exhibition: NZSAG Conference, Wallace Gallery, Morrinsville, New Zealand.
2016 Glass Art Society Conference Glass Fashion Show: Corning, New York, USA.
Whanganui Arts Review: Sarjeant Gallery, Whanganui, New Zealand.
2015
Dresses2: A tribute to the dress. Syd entel Galleries, Florida, USA.
Threads: New works by Carmen Simmonds and Kathryn Wightman. Space Gallery, Whanganui, New Zealand.
New Zealand Society of Artists in Glass Members Exhibition: The Pah Homestead, TSB Bank Wallace Arts Centre, Auckland, New Zealand.
The Whanganui Electorate Art Exhibition: Bowen House, Wellington, New Zealand.
2014
Raise the Glass - NZSAG Image + Object Conference 2014 Exhibition: TSB Wallace Arts Centre, Auckland, New Zealand.
Whanganui Arts Review: Sarjeant Gallery, Whanganui, New Zealand.
2013
The Playhouse: Master of Art & Design Final Exhibition, Space Gallery, Whanganui, New Zealand.
Snapshot - New Zealand Glass: Quay Gallery, Whanganui, New Zealand.
Whanganui Arts Review: Sarjeant Gallery, Whanganui, New Zealand.