SOLID SCULPTURE

The art of teaching

Larissa Hodges talks about her
art to Alison Alder

A large, dragon-fly, made out of car and truck parts stares balefully from its current home on a trolley in the art room at Tennant Creek High School. This is a welded metal sculpture that Larissa Hodges is working on as her contribution to the Barkly Arts travelling exhibition. The sculpture is certainly larger than life and reflects Larissa's interest in the environment, the largess of the land and the difference of the creatures that inhabit this seemingly hostile landscape.
"I was away from the N.T. for two years and coming back, the environment hit me like a ton of bricks. My painting work is about textures and imprints that I see within the environment. My interpretation of the sand dunes, rock formations, things that I see around me. My sculptures are more about imaginary bush creatures.
"The colours of the Territory are really what hit me."
Larissa studied art at Monash University, majoring in sculpture and is now the art teacher at Tennant Creek High School and is also working as a practising artist. Larissa has extended her work to include glass and painting.
She also traces the inspiration for her work back to working with the students at the high school. "A lot of my inspiration comes form seeing the kids doing something and thinking 'if I did it that way, and did this to it, I could create this.' The kids have fantastic ideas and it is like a permanent inspiration for me."
Larissa is also inspired by Joseph Cornell, an American artist who creates stories in boxes, collects objects and places them in a way to tell a story.
Larissa has participated in five exhibitions, with one solo show when she was at University. Her aim is to be involved in a lot more Territory shows and also have more solo exhibitions.
Even though Larissa is obviously very committed to her art, she is just as committed to teaching. Both professions feed each other, so Tennant Creek will continue to have the benefit of an artist and teacher all rolled into one.

The art of teaching Larissa Hodges talks about her art to Alison Alder A large, dragon-fly, made out of car and truck parts stares balefully from its current home on a trolley in the art room at Tennant Creek High School. This is a welded metal sculpture that Larissa Hodges is working on as her contribution to the Barkly Arts travelling exhibition. The sculpture is certainly larger than life and reflects Larissa's interest in the environment, the largess of the land and the difference of the creatures that inhabit this seemingly hostile landscape. "I was away from the N.T. for two years and coming back, the environment hit me like a ton of bricks. My painting work is about textures and imprints that I see within the environment. My interpretation of the sand dunes, rock formations, things that I see around me. My sculptures are more about imaginary bush creatures. "The colours of the Territory are really what hit me." Larissa studied art at Monash University, majoring in sculpture and is now the art teacher at Tennant Creek High School and is also working as a practising artist. Larissa has extended her work to include glass and painting. She also traces the inspiration for her work back to working with the students at the high school. "A lot of my inspiration comes form seeing the kids doing something and thinking 'if I did it that way, and did this to it, I could create this.' The kids have fantastic ideas and it is like a permanent inspiration for me." Larissa is also inspired by Joseph Cornell, an American artist who creates stories in boxes, collects objects and places them in a way to tell a story. Larissa has participated in five exhibitions, with one solo show when she was at University. Her aim is to be involved in a lot more Territory shows and also have more solo exhibitions. Even though Larissa is obviously very committed to her art, she is just as committed to teaching. Both professions feed each other, so Tennant Creek will continue to have the benefit of an artist and teacher all rolled into one.