Visual Arts  

2023 Artist in Schools Opening  

Artists:  Damian Curtain and Farima Heshraghi 

2023 Visual Arts Domain Leader messages

Good afternoon guests of the AIS program. I begin today by acknowledging the Wurdunerji people the Traditional custodians of the land on which we gather today and recognise the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. I pay my respects to respects to Aboriginaland Torres Strait Islander elders past and present. I extend that respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people shere today.'

My name is Helen Briffa and I am the Visual Arts Domain Leader for 2023. I would like to express my thanks to the City of Whitehorse who have deemed both projects of 2022 Damain Curtain Sculpture work ‘Nature Embedded’ and 2023 Farimah Eshraghi artworks as pieces of artworks that reflect the goals of the AIS Program ‘KSC Archibald’ and Collaborative Piece, ‘Baha ‘ llah worthy of funding A special shout out the KSC PFA who generously funded the installation of ‘Nature Embedded’ sculptural pieces now have a place to reside with a true acknowledgment of the value of the Artists in Schools program Without the support of the College PFA, we would not be able to appreciate the true artistic value of this artwork.

AIS Project, ‘Nature Embedded’, focussed on using the Art Elements of line, shape and texture. Damian & Mrs Georgina Russell worked in collaboration with the Year 9 Urban art class to brainstorm, create and present a sculptural piece to the KSC community within the KSC grounds. Thank you to Year 9 Urban art students for their commitment and creativity within this project. Special thanks to Damian who shared his skill set with all students, with all abilities, providing enrichment and a long lasting benefit to KSC. 

Thank you to Mr Chris Henson who facilitated the project working with Farimah and the Year 10 2D class. Thank you to Semester 1, Year 10 2D class for participating in this amazing opportunity to collaborate with a professional artist. Many thanks to Farimah for all your guidance, patience, passion and persistence not to mention your amazing creative and skilled work.

2024 Arts Captain Estelle Lau messages……….

I would like to welcome our Artist in Schools Guests: Artists, Damian Curtain and Farimah Eshraghi , Councillor Amanda McNeil and Councillor Blair Barker, Curator of Whitehorse Arts Space, Marguerite Brown, KSC PFA Reps: Martina Johnson, Vittoria O'Brien, May Na Bee and Neil Barker, past students, College student reprsentatives, Visual Arts Staff and KSC Executive Team, led by College Principal Andrew Mc Neil

The Artist in Schools program is important as it helps to support students and local artists by both providing funding for them to create and showcasing their amazing works within the school. Not only does it encourage creativity from students and staff, it also aids in adding enrichment and aesthetics the College, making it appear livelier and more welcoming environment. We can see this from the works of Damian Curtain as he worked tirelessly to collaborate and create, with fellow Year 9 Urban arts students, under the guidance of classroom teacher, Georgina Russell. We are so lucky to be able to experience Damian's expertise and skills which he passed onto the students. We thank the KSC PFA for their generous contribution for funding a special place for the sculpture works to reside.

The Artist in schools program embodies the idea of unity and collaboration. A program which aims to develop an appreciation of arts in our school communities, and this is clearly seen in the works completed by Year10 2D students, under the support of classroom teacher, Chris Henson and Artist Farimah Eshraghi. Students were guided though formal instruction to depict a body of work that represented themselves through self portraiture .They then went on to work on a collaboration piece based on a writing that Farimah had provided which enables students to generate ideas and work side by side to fulfill their meaning of the theme. We hope you appreciate and enjoy these individual and collaborative pieces.

Helen Briffa 

Visual Arts/Technology Teacher

Arts Domain Leader

Year 8 Visual Communication Design 

Amy McLellan

Learning Specialist High-ability Practice Leader Visual Arts/Technology Teacher

Year 7 Artist inspired work 

Students in 7A and 7C had the task  of investigating an Australian artist whose work inspires them and presented their completed work as a PowerPoint.  Please enjoy some samples of the work produced.  

2024 Year 7student artwork on Orientation Day

Our 2024 Year 7s enjoyed learning about surrealism art on Orientation Day. Please enjoy the collages they created. 

Year 7 Lino Prints 

Our Library foyer has housed the amazing Lino Art work that 7A & 7C have been working on. They are all very proud of their achievements. All work was based on a theme of Ocean, upon which students researched, generated and developed their own body of work based on a chosen concept.

Helen Briffa 

Visual Arts/Technology Teacher

Arts Domain Leader

Whitehorse City Council - Term1 Program Release 2024

Click on the following to learn more about the art programs available in Term 1 2024 at Whitehorse City Council:  What's On | Creative Whitehorse