The Arts

Senior School Art

The Year 12 Art: Creative Practice and the Year 12 Visual Communication and Design classes went to Top Designs exhibition at the Melbourne Museum in Carlton and the MetArt World gallery in Port Melbourne on Friday the 19th of May, 2023. Students were shown the top scoring folios at the Top Designs exhibition and final presentation formats of their School Assessed Task from the 2022-year 12 cohort from around the state and were inspired by the work that was produced in such a short amount of time. Students were able to flick through many folio pages from the brief to the generation of ideas and development of concepts on a digital screen. 

We also viewed many final design pieces from a 3D model of a café and a cabin accommodation in the snow, to packaging of tea and drink products, to a salt and pepper shaker and cheese board, and an application for a cat named ‘Tuffy’. We then had a quick recess break before catching the train to the docklands, were we walked in the rain to a café and had a sit-down lunch. Many students ordered smoothies and milkshakes and a chicken parmigiana or fisherman’s basket. 

After lunch, we walked to Port Melbourne where we saw MetArt World, which had many sculptures made out of scrap metal and a light installation with a mirror maze. Students were amazing by the over-life-sized sculptures and the way that light projections with audio can also be considered now as a very popular contemporary artform in our modern world. Overall, the year 12 students had lots of fun and were inspired to create outstanding work for their upcoming SAT. 

The Year 10 Art students have been working towards completing their MYP Summative Assessment for this Semester, where students created an acrylic painting on canvas of a still life and nature landscape artwork of their own. The artwork could be realistic and traditional or abstract and contemporary inspired. 

Students were then to create a sculpture based on an art theme or current issue that is currently happening in the media. Students were to learn specific clay building techniques such as making a pinch pot and a coil pot and even learn how to throw clay on the wheel. Students then began to research and develop sketches to plan out their sculptures. Many students explored endangered animals to pollution and deforestation. Overall, students enjoyed the painting and ceramics unit this term. 

In the Year 7, 8 and 9 Visual Communication and Design classes, students have been working towards completing their MYP Summative Assessment for this Semester, where students had to create a product, packaging and logo for their product using specific drawing techniques such as isometric drawings skills to show their packaging as 3-dimensional form and construct their own packing net with their logo design. Students were creating their logo digitally and their packaging design on Adobe Illustrator and learnt to annotate their research using the design elements and principles. Students then developed their product concepts using a creative design thinking technique called, ‘SCAMPER’, where they generated their ides and also developed their concept sketches for the logo and packaging design. 

Junior School Art 

Recently, our Preps learned about different cultures across the globe through an exploration of Masks found in regions. Inspired by these, they used materials such as feathers, icy pole sticks and a variety of papers to create their own masks. During reflection, Masks were adorned, helping them use their imaginations through story-telling and sparking conversations among peers. 

Additionally, our Grade One’s explored the works of Russian artist Kandinsky, through fun activities and different art mediums. One of them was the collage, ‘Flowering Tree.’ Students’ consolidated their understanding of the Art Elements of Shape and Colour, in this activity. They were encouraged to experiment cutting paper with different types of pattern scissors in the art room. The resulting artworks spoke volumes of dedicated effort.

Our Grade Twos worked on their Unit “Healthy Living”, by creating fruits and vegetables out of coloured modelling clay. This is called “Clay Play”, which encourages sensory development, fine motor skills, and hand-eye coordination. Similarly, our Grade Threes enjoyed their study on the New Zealand’s art and culture in their Unit “Kiwis”, and you will not believe what they made – kiwi fruit themed pinch pots! 

Meanwhile, the Grade Fours appreciated Indigenous Australian culture by completing inspired pieces in acrylic paints on canvas board, inspired by artist, Judy Watson. Their diligently made details using ear-buds to create interesting shapes and patterns. Such activities help students delve into and celebrate the rich history of Australia and First Nations People. Finally, our Grade Fives studied contemporary Japanese artist, Yayoi Kusama. Creating observational drawings of a pumpkin, they explored shading techniques such as hatching, cross- hatching and blending. 

Overall, these past few weeks have been filled with so much joy and creativity, I cannot wait to see what our artists will be making in Term 3. I wish all students a safe and enjoyable term break.