Visual Arts
Year 12 HSC Visual Arts Bodies of Work
I would like to congratulate the Year 12 Visual Art students who have worked consistently all year to complete their practical Body of Work, despite the many challenges 2021 has thrown their way. Every student finished their Body of Work and presented it professionally. We are so proud of these very hardworking and diligent students who devote many hours to achieve such a high standard of work and creativity.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the students' parents who also adapted to lockdown conditions coming up with creative spaces in their home to turn into art studios. Thank you for your encouragement and ongoing words of gratitude, homemade cakes and treats to share on our long days working in the studio at School.
I have enjoyed the many hours we have spent together experimenting with new materials and learning new skills. I will treasure so many memories of this year: the students coming in during the holidays and working for whole days, creating a fantastic studio atmosphere and monumental mess, listening to music, the sandwich press running hot and many cups of tea; students standing back and analysing their work, continually amazed at what they were able to achieve. I was fascinated whilst listening to Phoebe’s in depth knowledge of artists and the artworld gained in such a short period of time. I loved watching the journey of Rosie becoming a painter, from her early days to the end; she can mix paint and create tones and tints like no other and her precision is incredible.
Charlotte has become an expert drone photographer, as well as composing stunning photographs and prints celebrating the landscape of the Captee Valley and the impact of mining. Her captivating imagery remained with me as I was bush walking during the holidays, seeing similar pagoda-like rock structures. I have admiration for Rebecca and Lucy who always had words of positivity even though things were hard, working by themselves and solving many problems via Zoom instead of in person.
I admire these students for pushing themselves out of their comfort zones, trying new mediums; when they thought they were finished then taking on one more challenge and extending themselves ever further. Rhianna for keeping on going and creating such powerful etchings, and Ella for her sheer determination to succeed sculpting away pouring hours of work and then being brave enough to edit them out, one of the hardest things to do, allowing more space for her striking photographs. Kalana for taking on such a monumental scale of work with 23 portraits, hands and complex expressions, and wow, can she paint; Avelynn, Chloe and Milla who spent so many hours in an empty ghost town school working so hard in the ceramic studio with their masks on, their work too fragile to take home. The manner in which Milla so quickly learnt new skills in photoshop and Mitchell, who took on virtual reality. Jessica and her incredible technical skill, printing her Lino cuts ‘wet on wet’ and it worked, so brilliantly. Bec and her ability to directly translate her thoughts through her drawing tablet to make elaborate storyboards. Avelynn making a full head cast of her mum in winter. Such a brave mum to agree to be completely covered in alginate with only nose holes to breathe through for a good 40 minutes; the final cast even captured a few goose bumps.
Student | Title of Work |
---|---|
Kalana Campbell-Fuller | More than Two |
Rebecca Docherty | Is this What Aristotle was Talking About? |
Avelynn Drummond | Wailing |
Milla Gibson | Deterioration of Memory and Matter |
Mitchell Herron | Rukenfigur Microcosms of Collective Memory |
Phoebe Mason | Finding Femininity |
Ella McDowell | Simplicity of Form |
Charlotte McNair | Collapse |
Jessica McNair | Sonder |
Chloe Neale | The Craft of the Forgotten Woman: My Dedication |
Lucy Saunderson | Scars of Humanity |
Rhianna Say | Lazaretto |
Rosie Sullivan | Vacancy |
Teaching art for me is really special; there are so many precious moments of watching a student discover something new, being surprised about what they could achieve and being so proud of themselves that they can’t stop smiling or even laughing. This is why I love to teach and treasure time building self-belief in one’s own creativity.
I would also like to thank and acknowledge the many staff members and artists who have been involved with mentoring students and collaborating with me in so many different ways. I extend a big thank you to Mr Michael Herron for mentoring painters; Mr Paul Murray for teaching life casting (7 hours); Mr Brendan O’Keeffe for assisting with Laser cutting and sharing his knowledge; Ms Nadia Matteucci who assisted with marking, and Ms Julie Hiam whose collaboration helps to make challenges feel as light as a feather.
I would also like to thank the Maintenance Team who assisted in hanging the artworks so beautifully in the foyer: thank you, Jeff, Tim, and Tony. Thank you to the parents who have trusted my advice and have gone out of their way to drive equipment to and from school, and put up with art mess for an extended period of time. Its has all been worth it now you have something great to put on the wall or on a plinth at home.
I wish our 2021 Visual Arts cohort all the best in their preparations for the HSC.
Mrs Sally Herron
Head of Visual Arts