Claudia Jarman Image courtesy of the Jarman family |
But it was at school where I encountered her, and I still remember my first Art History lesson. We discussed a painting by Wassily Kandinsky – ‘The Battle’. Her passion for Art inspired two generations in the Bay of Plenty to practice and to appreciate art, and my siblings and I were just a few of them. She enjoyed young people and encouraged her students to express their own style and to extend it.
In discussing Claudia with my family, one said “She epitomised all that was great about that era – 1940’s-1970’s -where the emphases were more about art, music and culture. It was more about bringing together the most interesting people rather than those with money and high-status jobs”. In that era Tauranga had a strong dramatic and Arts culture.
Claudia was tiny in stature but she made a huge impression on the community. She campaigned for decades for an Art Gallery here in Tauranga and she sowed her dream seeds into the community through the pupils she taught and the people she encountered. She would be thrilled to know Tauranga now has its own Public Art Gallery.
I remember Claudia Jarman as well. What a wonderful art teacher! She had a huge influence on my life and I used to spend many hours of my lunchtimes in her art room. She taught me so much about art. I am a maths tutor and artist... still today. Felicity S ( née Leonard)
ReplyDeleteMrs Jarman taught me art during my college years..for School certificate, which I passed. I learned much, and enjoyed our trip to Auckland Art gallery in 1963.
ReplyDelete