Visual Arts Faculty

From the Co-ordinator of Visual Arts

Year 9 Filmmakers Capture Suspense on School Grounds

From 4:15 to 6:15pm on Wednesday 13 August the School site transformed into a film set as our talented Year 9 photographers took part in a thrilling short film project, inspired by the Q Station Ghost Trackers Tour and the theme Suspended Lens.

Armed with tripods, cameras, props, costumes and RØDE microphones, students took their positions across the campus, under the careful supervision of their teachers. Each group brought their scripts to life, applying their knowledge of camera angles, shot types, and movement to create visually compelling stories.

The oval echoed with loud, blood-curdling screams—alarming a few local neighbours, who were quickly reassured by Mrs Tierney that no one was in danger, just some passionate actors in action! Over in S Block, flickering lights hinted that something supernatural might be unfolding behind the scenes.

Students were fully immersed and buzzing with excitement for the entire two-hour shoot. The creative energy was palpable as each group worked to capture the perfect shot and build tension for their suspenseful narratives.

We can't wait to see the final edits, which will be polished using Adobe Premiere Pro. If this shoot was anything to go by, the finished films promise to be suspenseful, creative, and full of cinematic flair.

The Artist is Present: 2025 HSC Visual Arts Showcase

On Tuesday 26 August, our School Community, Family and Friends gathered in the Great Hall to celebrate the creativity and dedication of our Year 12 Visual Arts students at the annual HSC Visual Arts Showcase.

This year’s exhibition, titled The Artist is Present, was a nod to Marina Abramović, one of the most influential performance artists of our time. Abramović is renowned for her ability to hold space and create powerful connections between artist and audience, something our students also achieved through their own practices. Just as Abramović invites viewers into a shared experience, our students revealed their ideas, emotions, and identities through their artworks, creating spaces for reflection, dialogue, and inspiration.

The showcase featured an impressive range of Expressive Forms, including Painting, Drawing, Photo Media, Time-Based Works, Collections of Works, Ceramics, Designed Objects, and Graphic Design. Each Body of Work stood as a testament to the students’ commitment and creative risk-taking. As Pablo Picasso once remarked, “Good artists copy, great artists steal.” That line, later “stolen” by Banksy, reminds us that all artists borrow, transform, and reinvent what came before them, something our students demonstrated with originality and flair.

In addition to the exhibition, Year 11 students were invited to take part in a “Pass the Baton” event, designed to prepare them for their own HSC Visual Arts journey. They began with a game of “Bingo,” encouraging them to actively engage with the Year 12 works, followed by a Q&A session with the graduating class, who generously shared their insights, challenges, and advice. This collaboration highlighted the strength of our creative community, as Year 11 prepares to step into the role of exhibiting artists next year.

The celebrations continued on Thursday, 28 August, with a second showcase that extended beyond Year 12. This exhibition highlighted the breadth of creativity across the school, bringing together works from Years 9 to 11 Elective Visual Arts classes alongside performances from the Performing Arts, Dance, Drama, and Music.

Adding to the sense of occasion, each Visual Arts teacher also selected two exemplary works from their Years 7 and 8 classes to be exhibited. These younger students will each receive a certificate as formal recognition of their wonderful achievements and as encouragement for their artistic journeys ahead.

Together, the two showcases on Tuesday 26 August and Thursday 28 August, highlighted the extraordinary talent and dedication of our Visual and Performing Arts students from Years 7 to 12. From the ambitious HSC Bodies of Work to the expressive pieces of our junior students, and from the creative risk-taking of electives to the collaborative spirit of Dance, Drama, and Music, both events celebrated the richness of our School’s creative community. These moments reminded us that the artist is always present—sometimes in the work, sometimes in the act of looking, but always in the conversations that art makes possible.

We warmly thank the Visual Arts staff, who worked behind the scenes and attended both evenings to support students and enjoy the showcases, as well as Campus Help and Mandi and her team for their invaluable support in ensuring both showcases ran smoothly with setup and food. We also thank the Performing Arts staff for welcoming us to collaborate and share in this wonderful celebration.