Arts

VCE Arts and Technology Showcase 

We recently celebrated the creativity, skill, and dedication of our VCE students at the annual Arts and Technology Showcase. The event brought together families, friends, staff, and special guests to admire the impressive work produced across Art Making & Exhibiting, Product Design and Technologies, Visual Communication Design, Systems Engineering, and Media. 

The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the School Assessed Task (SAT) Awards, recognising students whose projects demonstrated not only exceptional technical ability but also innovation and originality. 

VCE Media 

Riley Irvin received the SAT Award for VCE Media for his outstanding documentary, Welcome Stranger. Riley’s film was praised for its insightful exploration of Ballarat’s Mountain biking culture. Judges noted his skilful use of cinematic techniques, such as panning, close-ups, slow motion, and dynamic composition, Riley captured the energy of the riders and highlighted their human stories. 

A special mention to Ryder Willem for Loci’s Retreat, an engaging short film that showcased thoughtful writing, planning, and well-coordinated production.  

Product Design & Technologies 

Riley Irvin also took home the SAT Award in Product Design & Technologies for his exceptional and versatile shelving unit, recognised for its functionality, craftsmanship, and design innovation. 

Visual Communication Design 

The SAT Award for Visual Communication Design was presented to Blake Scott by adjudicator Hisu Lee, an award-winning designer and educator. Hisu praised Blake’s project, Revived, a sustainable fashion and retail brand, for its focus on eco-textiles, branding, website design, and polished presentation. She described the work as “highly creative, professional, and innovative.” 

Hisu also commended the overall calibre of the Visual Communication Design folios, noting that many were of award-winning standard. In particular, she praised the work of Brock Healy for its creativity and execution. 

Art Making & Exhibiting 

As adjudicator for the Art Making & Exhibiting category, Hisu Lee selected Zac Procaccino as the SAT Award recipient. Zac’s creative exploration of clothing as a form of art deeply impressed her, particularly his artist statement, which clearly articulated the meaning and intention behind his work. Hisu also gave special mention to Max Lynch for his highly skilled ceramic work. 

Systems Engineering & People’s Choice 

Congratulations also to Ned Cummins, recipient of the SAT Award for Systems Engineering, and to Albie Eskdale, who received the People’s Choice Award for his creative and well-crafted cabinet. 

Acknowledgements 

All exhibiting students deserve recognition for their extraordinary efforts and commitment to their studies. Our adjudicators commented on the exceptionally high standard of work this year, making their task of selecting winners a challenging one. 

Sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to the success of this event: 

Roger Knight, Head of Technology, and the dedicated Technology teaching and technical team. 

Our incredible maintenance staff, whose support behind the scenes is invaluable. 

Melanie Lee, Arts Assistant/Technician, whose months of preparation – helping the students with their printing, mounting, photographing, and hanging artworks, was essential to bringing this showcase to life. 

Finally, heartfelt thanks to our passionate and professional VCE teachers: Peter Hutchins (Media), Wendy Sheridan (Art Making & Exhibiting), Katherine Martin and Jeanean Pritchard (Visual Communication Design), whose expertise and care guided students to success. 

We also acknowledge John Davey, Belinda Lees, Rebecca Warr, Mark O’Callaghan, and pre-service teacher Ben Brophy for their vital support of our Year 10 and 11 students, helping them develop the skills and knowledge that underpin this remarkable showcase. 

Year 11 Visual Communication Design

Year 11 Visual Communication Design students have just completed a challenging architectural design task, with their final work soon to be featured in the school reception area in the coming weeks. 

This semester’s major project required students to design an office and observatory building for a country-loving, astronomy-enthusiast family trio based in regional New South Wales. The brief challenged students to devise creative solutions for a compact two-level building on a small 3 x 5 metre site, integrating large windows for optimal stargazing and maintaining the family’s preference for organic, ecological materials such as timber, roofing iron, and cement. 

Students demonstrated their design thinking by working through each stage of the design process. The project demanded technical proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and ArchiCAD for presenting scaled floor plans, elevations, and perspective drawings. Final outcomes included detailed architectural renderings, written designer statements, and the production of a scaled 3D model.