The personal aspect of this is in the translation. How we experience the material of our inner lives; how we observe it, honour it, open to it, repress or deny it has an effect on what we express and how we express it in our everyday lives.

Studies in transpersonal psychology and consciousness development brought Sally to an abiding interest in the creative process, both as a support to individual wellbeing, and of critical importance to the wider human potential.

After living a long time abroad, Sally now lives and works in Coromandel township, where she co-founded Watch This Space Coromandel, a not-for-profit community initiative for artists which has thrived for nine years, offering shared studio space, workshops, and curated exhibitions.

Sally's work mostly uses gathered and recycled materials and an intuitive, exploratory, very hands-on approach. Textiles have a pervasive presence, as do botanical themes.

Personal Mythologies is work about getting thoroughly lost and then finding my way again, with paint and brushes. A lot of life gone by! Many distractions, chores, duties, journeying and ...pot holes; all this nonetheless contributing threads to the ongoing life fabric. Then, finally, focusing on “the thing that one does”.

Mary Oliver wrote : the needle one plies, the work, and within that work, a chance to take thoughts that are hot and formless and to place them slowly and with meticulous effort into some shapely heat retaining form....even as the soundless wheels of time have made forms all across the soft, curved universe.

Benni Bonnin is originally from Paris, and after years of travelling she has eventually called New Zealand home. She has attended many art programmes at Ponsonby Art Station (now Studio One) in Auckland and in 2006 she completed one year at AUT, Bachelor of Visual Arts, before transferring to the Learning Connexion in Wellington. Benni’s art practice is illustrative, colourful and whimsical. She has exhibited in Wellington and the Coromandel and is part of the Watch This Space and Hauraki House Shared Studios artist groups.