Ngā Uri E! Collage Workshop at Glen Eden Library

Last weekend, I facilitated the Ngā Uri E! collage workshop at Glen Eden Library.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for a morning of thoughtful making and reflection on identity, whakapapa, and personal journeys. It was a rich and engaged group, with participants spanning a wide range of ages and backgrounds — including some who travelled in from town to attend.
I’m grateful to share this feedback from participant Jen Aldridge (The Gentle Art Company):
"The free workshop I attended at Glen Eden Library, championed by the mega-talented Naomi Azoulay, was brilliant!
Naomi guided us with prompts and a massive pile of magazines and quality books to choose from. With absolutely everything provided, it was amazing just to turn up and get stuck in. I chose to explore ‘Where I come from’. Naomi circulated regularly and offered guidance or encouragement; she was very present and available to assist. The main takeaway for me was her encouragement to be intuitive in our exploration of material and storytelling.
I was sitting between a lovely senior and an Industrial Archaeologist. I was amazed at the broad range of people there to explore collage on a deeper level. Naomi led with a lovely energy and vibe, which the room responded to.
The 4-hour workshop was extremely pleasant, and Glen Eden Library was a fantastic venue. I would do this workshop again in a heartbeat. I’d also encourage others to do the same. It was incredible to learn from someone so accomplished and free in her own creativity."
Thank you, Jen, for your generous words.
Community-based creative spaces like this continue to remind me how powerful accessible, facilitated art-making can be; in libraries, galleries, and shared public spaces.