Visual Arts Faculty

From the Co-ordinator of Visual Arts

HSC Showcase Evening 

(Visual Arts, Design and Technology, Society and Culture and English)

Thursday afternoon commenced with a private viewing of HSC Bodies of Work for the current Year 11 Visual Arts cohort, followed by a question‑and‑answer session with Year 12. This event, aptly titled Pass the Baton, provided an opportunity for our senior students to share insights, reflections and the invaluable “things I wish I had known” as Year 11 prepare to embark on their own HSC journey.

Later that evening, the school community gathered in the Great Hall for a vibrant celebration of Year 12 achievement, showcasing Visual Arts alongside outstanding work from Design and Technology, Society and Culture and English. The event marked the culmination of months of sustained creative inquiry, particularly through the Visual Arts Body of Work a major HSC component requiring students to produce a resolved artwork in their chosen expressive form.

Students presented works across photo media, time‑based forms, painting, drawing, collections of works and graphic design, each shaped by personal interests, lived experiences and conceptual exploration. Edgar Degas, an artist well known to the cohort, famously stated: “Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.” This sentiment captured the spirit of the exhibition, where meaning, emotion and insight were as central as technical accomplishment. Artist statements displayed alongside the works offered further clarity on each student’s intentions and influences.

A heartfelt thank you goes to our Facilities Team; Tatum, Dave and Hamish as well as Mandi and the Canteen team, IT Team, Ms Gabbi Wenman, Harry and Remy (G10), for music and sound, and the Visual Arts Department, especially Ms Karen Blundell, whose expertise and guidance helped shape the students’ work. Mrs Kemp’s indispensable organisational support ensured the evening ran seamlessly.

Guests were invited to also vote in the People’s Choice and Technical Proficiency awards, with prizes generously donated by Eckersley’s and S&S. Award recipients will be announced at an upcoming Friday assembly.

Congratulations to the Class of 2026. Their creativity, resilience and commitment were evident in every work displayed, marking a fitting celebration of their achievements as they enter the final stage of their HSC journey. The Visual Arts team are so proud of you!

Tanisha (2025 Alumna) Art Express Opening Night Hawkesbury Gallery Windsor

As many of you will remember, Tanisha from the Class of 2025 was selected for exhibition in ARTEXPRESS, a remarkable achievement that reflects the strength and sophistication of her Body of Work. Tanisha’s work has been exhibited in two galleries this year — the Glasshouse Gallery in Port Macquarie and the Hawkesbury Regional Gallery in Windsor, with the official opening held on Friday 26 August.

Tanisha’s Body of Work, a series of ceramic pieces titled Fluorescent Footprints, transforms ocean waste into artificial reef forms, using vivid neon accents to highlight the impact of pollution. Inspired by Joan Ross, her work explores the tension between nature’s resilience and humanity’s ongoing influence beneath the waves. Through this conceptual lens, Tanisha invites viewers to reflect on their own responsibility for the future health of our oceans.

We are incredibly proud of Tanisha and congratulate her on this outstanding accomplishment. Well, done, Tanisha.

Finalist News- Northern Beaches Council ‘Underwater Photography’ Competition 2026

The Underwater Photography Competition returns for its sixth year, showcasing the 2026 theme Where Protection Brings Life, a concept inspired by World Oceans Day. This year’s event invited photographers and videographers of all ages and abilities to document the unique marine life and environmental value of the Northern Beaches’ five aquatic reserves through creative visual storytelling. A total prize pool of $3,500 is on offer, with the winners to be revealed in November.

We are delighted to share that Ria (C10) has been selected as a finalist in this year’s competition. Her striking image, Aspiring Model, showcases her emerging talent and thoughtful engagement with the theme.

Please show your support by voting for Ria via this link: Underwater Photo Competition 2026

Students, please let your Visual Arts or Photography teacher know if you have been selected as a finalist in any art or photography competition. We would love to celebrate your achievement and acknowledge your success within our school community.

Suspenseful Lens – Year 9 Photography and Digital Media Transform the School Site

Following their atmospheric ghost‑tracking experience at the Q Station, Year 9 Photography and Digital Media students returned to school for an ambitious on‑site incursion designed to push their creative thinking even further. With the entire campus as their stage, students were challenged to transform familiar spaces into cinematic environments proving that the only real limit was their imagination.

Working in groups assigned by their teachers, students demonstrated maturity, adaptability and genuine collaborative spirit. Many found themselves partnered with peers they did not know well, yet every group stepped up, communicated thoughtfully and embraced the opportunity to work as a creative team. Their focus, respect and willingness to experiment were evident across the school grounds.

Throughout the afternoon and evening, the campus shifted into a lively film set: a sudden scream echoing from a stairwell, a dramatic thud from behind a classroom door, and the occasional eerie clown toy or unsettling doll appearing in unexpected corners. These playful moments of tension added to the excitement as students explored how lighting, sound, props and performance could transform everyday spaces into scenes of suspense, mystery or humour.

The incursion marks the beginning of each group’s short film project, with students now moving into the editing phase. They are learning to use Adobe Premiere, developing skills in sequencing, sound design, colour grading and visual storytelling as they bring their footage to life.

A huge thank you to Ms Gabbi Wenman, Justine Legend and Karen Blundell for accompanying the incursion and supporting students throughout this creative experience. Their guidance helped shape an evening that was not only productive, but genuinely inspiring.

We cannot wait to see the final films once editing is complete each one a testament to the imagination, teamwork and growing technical skill of our Year 9 Photography and Digital Media students.