Please share a little bit about who you are and what you do in your regular life?
Born in Canada, I moved to Australia 20 years ago with my husband and 4 children when he accepted a 3 year contract in regional NSW. I've spent much of my life parenting and as an educator, but my first love has always been textile arts. Since moving to Perth 2.5 years ago I've been working full-time developing my artistic voice. I work mostly in mixed media and textiles creating evocative original art that cherishes the beauty of nature and opens a dialogue for our future.
At what point did you begin to learn about the issue of sustainability in every area of daily life?
I have always been aware of conserving resources. Growing up in Vancouver, Canada, my family composted, grew our own veggies and recycled long before the availability of cur side recycling. My mother made my clothes or altered clothing from the second hand stores.
Have you embraced any changes that help you personally leave a smaller ecological footprint?
Last year immediately following EFWA 2017 I set myself a challenge. To avoid impulse purchases of take away meals, that resulted in single use waste going to landfill, in particular disposable coffee cups, plastic straws, plastic bags and plastic water bottles. I started carrying a refillable metal thermos and a keep cup in my car. I chose to eat-in rather than take away. In addition, I've been taking home any unavoidable rubbish to be either recycled or better yet creatively up cycled. This attitude spread to all packaging that entered the house and evolved into the Reclamation Project. I have just spent the past month at an artist in residence exploring ways to create high quality art to wear from the waste I have collected.
How did you meet Zuhal and what led you to become involved with EFWA 2017?
I heard Zuhal speak in August 2016 and was impressed with her life story and her drive to make a difference. I contacted her afterwards and offered to help with the event. Last year I tutored a clothes mending workshop, a workshop on the creative reuse of plastic bags and was the guest artist at the EFWA runway event.
What was it about EFWA's mission that drew you to offer your talents in support of this international event?
As an educator and global citizen I believe it is everyone's responsibility to take care of the world we live in and all it inhabitants whether animal or human. To EFWA's mission of raising awareness and fostering an inclusive community is strongly aligned with my beliefs.
As a part of the EFWA 2017 team, what role or roles will you be filling?
Art Director/ Curator
Any last words or a favourite quote on sustainability?
I have two favourite quotes both from 'Blue Planet 2'
"We are at a unique stage in our history. Never before have we had such an awareness of what we are doing to the planet and never before have we had the power to do something about it." -- David Attenborough
"It comes down, I think, to us each taking responsibility for the personal choices in our everyday lives. That's all any of us can be expected to do. And it is those everyday choices that add up." John Copley, Antarctic deep sea explorer
Links -
- Instagram - @marie.mitchell.art
- Facebook - www.facebook.com/marie.maclachlan.mitchell.art/
- Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/Marie-mitchell-1a858821
- Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3dl38ZwrBpJAz7TP4hq0JA
- Email - Marie.mitchell.art@gmail.com