Wellness. Weirdness. Connection.

Wellbeing. Weirdness. Connection. Three words that when used together in a creative context make sense. Not in a perfectly controlled way, but in the unpredictable nature that comes with being curious and being human.

Pete Sephton, Sandra Jensen, and Adrian Cook are respected Waikato artists working in three distinct mediums; printmaking, performance, and photography. Yet all three share a common commitment to enabling expression, encouraging participation, and celebrating creativity for enhancing personal and social wellbeing.

From his studio in Coromandel, Pete Sephton finds satisfaction in the process that frames his creative practice of screen printing on paper. From the careful preparation of stencils to the surprise element of what is created in the printmaking process, the journey is where much of the magic lies. His art often draws inspiration from memories, history, and resilience with some of it inspired by kintsugi, the Japanese art of highlighting the cracks in broken pottery with gold. Pete believes this art form holds a powerful message, in that our flaws make us beautiful.

“Don’t hide from your faults. Emphasise them. Make the best of a challenging thing.”

And this philosophy flows into his community engagement. Sephton is a proud contributor to the Coromandel Independent Living Trust’s Art Access programme, which provides artistic experiences to people who may be facing barriers to access. Through this work, Pete sees first-hand how creative exploration builds confidence and changes lives.

“Some people aren’t very verbal until they start working on something. Suddenly, they’re alive.”

It’s this personal joy that he shares so generously which provides not only art but an unspoken practice of mindfulness and hope. Pete has been a long-time promoter of exhibitions in the local area that bring together emerging and established artists, offering them the affirmation that their work matters. 

“To be asked to be in an exhibition, it lights people’s faces up and they get so much confidence and produce really good work.”

Hamilton-based performance artist Sandra Jensen is a cornerstone of Waikato’s underground creative scene. With a decades-long commitment to theatrical street performance and through her work with Free Lunch Street Theatre and the Miss Cadaver Undead Beauty Pageant, Sandra facilitates events that empower others to develop and showcase their own eccentric performances.

“I’m not doing this for people to say ‘wow, that’s amazing what you did. It’s about them. It’s giving people a platform and encouraging their weirdness.”

Sandra’s form of community-building is framed around its inclusivity. Whenever queries come in about creative activations that fall outside her own practice, Jensen generously recommends performers across a wide creative spectrum, from fire artists to costumed superheroes, ensuring everyone has a place and a purpose. 

So what continues to motivate her creatively? Jensen reflects on being fuelled by “chaos and sarcasm” with a defiant sense of justice challenging conformity in public spaces and championing individuality. She sees maintaining a unique spirit as vitally important, especially in the young people she interacts with on a regular basis in formal education settings.

“Creativity in schools celebrates quirks instead of ironing them out. Even if kids are academically inclined, it’s nice to have something that keeps them sane.”

Sandra’s impact is visible in her responsiveness to local needs, a long-term commitment to collaboration with people she respects, and in her role as a connector. It’s art with a good dose of attitude and heart, one that prods at the public’s imagination while strengthening creative community networks.

Photographer Adrian Cook, a Te Aroha local, brings a global lens to his work. Having trained in London and worked for high-profile clients across Europe and Australia, on returning to his hometown, Adrian now focuses on using the 19th-century wet plate collodion technique as his primary craft. It requires a patient, hands-on process to create the unique portraits on metal and glass.

A recent meaningful project involved photographing local volunteers for a Morrinsville Gallery exhibition, pairing their portraits with written stories to celebrate the often-unseen contributions. For Adrian, it was about visibility in more ways than one.

“Volunteers are often shy people. They’re not doing it to be thanked. Photographing them on glass, where you kind of see them but don’t see them, just fit beautifully with that.”

The power of this particular initiative lay in its authenticity. Families who came to the exhibition were deeply moved by the images and narratives of loved ones being acknowledged. It was a validation not only of Adrian’s vision but also of the community’s heartbeat and generosity.

Creativity, for Adrian, is about shaping identity and connection. His own journey from a student unsure of his path to an international photographer fuels his advocacy for making art visible and viable.

“I wish someone had told me art could be a career. Art appeals to everyone and there’s always something somebody likes. It makes you who you are.”

What ultimately connects Pete, Sandra, and Adrian is a shared belief that art is for everyone and not only as spectators, but as participants. Their creative contribution within the wider community reminds us that the small, the strange, and the sincere can encourage conversation and make a difference in how artistic work is received and enjoyed.

This article is part of a series of stories connected with our Creativity Lives in Waikato project. We know that Waikato thrives with diverse and transformative creative activity, so we are helping to highlight some of the creativity that lives in our region. Check out this growing collection of stories featuring the local Waikato creative community.