Nayland College has been fortunate to gain an ‘artist in residence’ with professional print artist and ex-Nayland student Ira Arraoui joining the art department to work on her own projects and mentor students.

It is a move that has proven quite fortuitous for both parties, as Nayland gains a working artist to inspire and instruct students, while Ina gains access to a printing press, something that has proven to be quite elusive.

“As a print artist, we need printing presses. So that was how I ended up back here because there were no other printing presses available in all of Nelson,” Ina said. “But this a big problem in New Zealand as there are actually no open access print studios in New Zealand.”

This is something that Ina would eventually like to change, with her ultimate dream being to set up an Auckland based inclusive community for print artists, with facilities to allow anyone to engage with the art form.

In the meantime however, she needed a place to produce her art. Just months ago she was realising her dream of studying printmaking in Florence, Italy. Unfortunately, the Covid-19 outbreak put an end to that and she found herself back in New Zealand looking for a studio.

She contacted a few places and had no luck. “And then I was like, ‘Let me try my old school.’ I was a student here in ‘95 and ‘96,” Ina said.

At Nayland, Ina studied printmaking, painting, art history and photography.

“Mr Wotton was my photography teacher. And he was awesome. I think I was top of the class and won an award. He was amazing. His passion shone through.”

Being back at Nayland has allowed Ina to pass on her expertise and knowledge to students.

“I’ve had a few teachers bring students through to me that are a little bit ahead in their class. We’ve been doing dry point, where you get some soft plastic and you scratch into it. And there’s a few other students who have wanted to do wood block printing. I’ve been showing them how to hold the tool, how to move it.” Ina also intends to work with art teacher Tania Radman next term to do a print module with a Year 10 class.

Diana Maskill, Head of the Art Department, described the arrangement as being advantageous for everyone involved.

“Having someone with expertise in an area like printmaking can help show the students the technique, but also they can see an artwork evolving over a period of time so they can see the process. She can do one on one sessions with students so it is like having an extra teacher in the classroom which is an advantage. It is also professional development for us, as she brings her expertise to us and to the school. It’s a lovely combination of we benefit – she benefits, and also an opportunity to support local artists.”

As much as Ina feels at home at Nayland College, it is a stark contrast to where she was living beforehand in Florence, Italy. She was studying at Il Bisonte, a foundation for Art and Printmaking.

“I was doing a six month specialisation course in print making. Florence is the one of the places where etching and engraving came from,” Ina said.

Unfortunately, due to the Corona virus, Ina had to quickly depart Florence and return home, only completing two months of her course, leaving the bulk of her tools and some unfinished projects over there.

“I literally had to flee,” Ina said. “I grabbed one small box of etching tools. I grabbed some wood blocks. I called the New Zealand Embassy in Rome.” The embassy ended up sending her a taxi to take her from Rome to Florence so that she could make one of the last flights out.

Ina found the close call of being trapped overseas to be quite scary.

“I never really felt scared of the virus, but when I found out that they were closing the borders and we might not be able to get out, that terrified me. That is when I grabbed everything and ran,” Ina said.

A quick look at Ina’s website (inaarraoui.com) reveals that she has been able to forge a successful career as an artist, and has made the most of the opportunities that have come her way. She has some good advice for fledging artists at Nayland that may wish to pursue a career in the arts.

“There are actually lots of people now making a living as an artist. That myth of the struggling artist who can’t survive is a bit of a lie, because if you have the business savy, you can make it happen and you can make it work.”

“As long as you understand that being an artist is a business, and if you don’t have the business skills, then source that business support. If you like the business side of it, do the business course and support yourself. If you don’t have the knack or the interest in the business side, then invest in paying someone to manage the business side.”

For the immediate future though, Ina’s business will be to produce her art at Nayland, and inspire creativity in our students. Any other plans have been put to the side for now.

“I’ve decided not to make any more plans for 2020,” Ina said laughing.