Visual Arts in Focus 

Making her mark: Adele Auchterlonie 

We were so excited to reconnect with former student Adele Auchterlonie after hearing about her upcoming exhibition, Summer's Rhythm, at Melbourne's 45downstairs Gallery (24 March–18 April). 

Since finishing at SMC, Adele has followed her passion for art in her own way.  She began a Bachelor of Fine Arts but realised it wasn't the right fit at the time. After the birth of her son, Ned, she found her way back to painting and hasn't looked back since. 

From there, Adele has worked with real focus and determination to rebuild her practice and grow her career as an artist. Through selling work online and taking on commissions, she's been steadily building her presence and developing her own unique style. 

Her journey is a great reminder that creative pathways aren't always straightforward, and that persistence and self-belief really matter. 

Through light, texture and mood, Adele's paintings capture the feeling of an Australian summer, inviting viewers to slow down and reconnect with a sense of comfort and belonging. 

We're incredibly proud to see Adele's work reaching new audiences and wish her all the best with Summer's Rhythm and beyond. We're hoping to welcome Adele back to SMC to share her experiences with our Art students in the future. 

A little magic is moving in

There have been whispers... A flicker of something unusual out of the corner of your eye. A sense that something small, secret and magical might be stirring just beneath the surface of our school spaces...

Over the coming weeks, you may begin to notice tiny changes around our school. Tiny doors nestled into tree trunks, hidden along pathways, tucked into the most unexpected places... as though a secret world is unfolding right alongside our own.  

If you look closely... really closely... you might just catch a glimpse of the magic. Keep your eyes open. Tread carefully. Stay curious. Something magical is moving in (with the help of our Year 9/10 Ceramics class).

Art on ice: Visualising the invisible 

Eloise Kirk, our talented Visual Arts technician and practising artist, was recently commissioned by the Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies to create an artwork inspired by their research into the melting of subglacial channels. We caught up with her to find out more.

What was the story or idea behind this commission?

The IMAS scientists needed something engaging to present to a government panel to support funding for Antarctic research, particularly around measuring the melting of subglacial channels. The science and data alone weren’t always compelling enough to influence decision-makers, so they wanted a visual artwork that could communicate the scale and significance of their research in a more immediate and impactful way.

Did anything unexpected happen while you were making it?

Everything! The way I work with collage and resin means there’s always an element of unpredictability. The materials really have a mind of their own, so I’m constantly responding to what they do.

What was the most enjoyable part of creating this piece?

Definitely talking with the scientists and discovering the crossover between our work. I was paired with a scientist whose PhD explored ideas very similar to what I already investigate, things like sediment, deep time, geology, and how unseen forces are constantly shifting and changing. It was exciting to realise we were exploring similar concepts, just in completely different ways.

Were there any challenges?

The timeframe was a big one. I only had six weeks to complete the work, and I would have loved more time. The scale was also a challenge. The piece had to be smaller than I usually work because it needed to be transported to Canberra, which limited how expansive I could be.

If this artwork had a soundtrack, what would it be?

Something by Icelandic band Sigur Rós. Their sound really captures the atmosphere and tempo of the work.

What’s next?

I’ll be continuing this exploration through an ongoing project for the Beaker Street Festival, building on the ideas around Antarctic research.