Teaching & Learning News

Marrung Student Representative News

In week 5, the Marrung Student Representatives went to Footscray Community Arts, where we learnt how to make sculptures of native Australian animals. As soon as the bell rang, we gathered in the school breezeway and then boarded the bus. When we got there, we were greeted by First Nations artist Sienna and two helpers Alice and Grace. We explored the grounds of Footscray Community Arts, including two huge photographs of local Elder Uncle Larry. We walked through a little bit of the gardens and we saw six canoes woven out of stringy bark. We learnt that each one represented one of the six Aboriginal seasons. The canoes were made by the Footscray community and two Elders. 

Next, we headed into the theatre area to make animal sculptures out of air-dry clay. The clay had a sticky, oily texture. Then we had to let the clay dry, so we went outside again and looked at the huge black and white mural on the side of the building. Its colours represent a shield and two fighting tribes. Once our animals were dry, we decorated them with white paint markers and we made environments for our creatures. We shared our work with each other in a yarning circle.

Thank you to Tess for organising the excursion, as well as Kerrie and Rebecca for supervising us. Thank you to the artist Sienna for teaching us, as well as Footscray Community Arts for having us.

The Marrung Student Representative Team