Cynthia Turner

Country of Birth

New Zealand

Qualifications

Cynthia Turner is a qualified primary school teacher. She entered the world of street theatre when she migrated to Australia in 1981, studying at a private theatre company, before becoming a member of a stilt-walking theatre company. A founding member of Circus Solarus — a company committed to transforming everyday public spaces through street theatre, large visual imagery and community projects — Cynthia began making mosaic artworks during her involvement in the 1990s.

She has designed and built mosaic artworks for public spaces and private gardens. Her mosaics appear on seats, walls, footpaths, barbecues, borders and traffic roundabouts. As well as making the mosaic surfaces, she designs many of their sculptural forms. Many of her artworks are the result of a collaborative process working with professional artists, architects, landscape designers and members of the local community. She uses a variety of materials in her work: handmade ceramics, commercial ceramic tiles, vitreous glass tiles, and cut stained glass.

Experience

Cynthia's transition from street theatre performer to mosaic artist began when she made a mosaic-covered seat for her garden. In 1990, a stroke of luck changed the direction of her career — a community worker from Kids Activities Newtown saw the seat and invited Cynthia to work with students from local schools to make a mosaic artwork for a wall within the grounds of Enmore Park.

It turned out to be the start of a career as a public artist, specialising in designing and making mosaic artworks for streetscapes, parks, community centres and schools.

Achievements

Cynthia's artworks can be found in Sydney, Wollongong, Dubbo and Tasmania, most commissioned by local councils. The artworks, using a variety of materials such as handmade tiles, broken ceramic tiles, sheeted glass tiles and cut stained glass, can be seen in the form of public benches, mosaic walls and footpaths.

Teaching style

Cynthia's aim is to create a non-threatening and fun environment for everyone. It's her hope that students can go away with a sense of achievement.

Something unique

Cynthia's career as a performer ended when a little girl of three told her she was too old to be a fairy!