Dr. Miranda Lawry | A Healthy Passion for the Arts

Alex Morris
Jun 22, 2015
2 min read

University of Newcastle’s Dr. Miranda Lawry has a passion for integrating all the creative aspects of the way we live.

For over 20 years the Photo Media lecturer has been teaching at the University of Newcastle and working collaboratively in Arts and Health. From curating art exhibits in the John Hunter Hospital to assisting her students with the Uni’s study abroad program, she has many stories of her experiences and of students of whom she’s proud.

In 2013 she finished her PHD in Arts/Health, where she spent time documenting and photographing the old Newcastle Hospital, which (before it was knocked down) was located above Newcastle Beach. Her research explored how Arts/Health can assist patients in getting well and dealing with their illness. “I realised people use art in their lives to create calmness and focus to be able to communicate ideas that aren’t oral/literarily-based experiences,” she said. Lawry cites the medical student’s current organisation ‘Wake Up’ as example of the beneficial cross-overs between the art & medical worlds. Each year students have an opportunity to work and volunteer around the world. Photos from their journey are then submitted to Dr. Lawry and the Arts for Health Coordinator, who select the finalist to be exhibited in the foyer of the hospital. On the launch of the exhibition the medical students make birthing kits for third world communities. Miranda's current interest lies in the changing nature of arts practices. This semester she will host a workshop where students will self-publish their photos. She said self- publishing has taken off in the world in the last 12 to 18 months, where in the past photographers had to rely on exhibiting or working with a commercial publisher. She said with publishing software programs like Blurb or Momento the industry is rapidly changing. She’s currently negotiating with Watt Space Gallery to exhibit the students’ self-published work in early 2016.

Growing up in Northern New South Wales, Miranda studied and worked in Sydney for several years before arriving in Newcastle. She said growing up in the country has given her a deep commitment to supporting regional places. She has witnessed first-hand the dramatic changes in Newcastle’s creative and cultural direction. “I think Renew Newcastle is an extraordinary initiative and everyone involved has to be very proud of what they’ve started. Renew allowed students to think of their art as potential businesses. I’ve had lots of students who have set themselves up and empowered themselves to work creatively and commercially,” she said. Photo provided by Miranda Lawry