Alice Griffiths (Class of 2004) – coastal creativity on display at Hadley’s Orient Hotel
Posted on February 6, 2025
Paperclay is stronger than it looks. It’s possible to sculpt fine, seemingly delicate work with it, yet it’s far stronger than ordinary clay.
It’s fitting that Alice RG (Griffiths) (2004) uses the material to build her intricate sculptures around objects found on the coast: her current creative concern is “evolving strength”, and she finds this richly reflected in the seascape environment.
The artist has a Master of Teaching from University of Tasmania, and “Drift” at Hadley’s Orient Hotel is Alice’s first public showing in much of a decade, after she stepped away from exhibiting to focus on parenting and her work in primary schools. “Teaching is a wonderful opportunity to involve children in sculptural narratives that encourage hope, strength and growth,” says the UTAS Honours graduate in Fine Arts, who lives south of Hobart with her partner and two children. “I’m a big believer in providing multisensory learning opportunities for all learners. That way we can all make mistakes and creatively evolve them into moments of knowing oneself better.”
Her favourite teachers at Friends’ were those who “modelled a joyful playfulness in life and enhanced learning through kindness – I learned that kindness can bring a sense of connection far and wide.”
Alice recommends those considering a life in art stay curious and life-long learners, and that prospective artists seek out and enjoy connecting with creative people in creative spaces. “Keep creating,” she urges. “Get a little nervous-excited as you stick your neck out with projects that bring a smile. You don’t need to please people who don’t understand your work.”
She has suggestions for parents of those artists too. “Trust in your child. Trust and believe in the career significance of the arts,” she says. “And if in doubt, learn more about their field and the industry. You may even notice wonderful opportunities for them.”
