The Arts
ELISE ZIJAI
Head of Arts
Oakleigh Grammar Art Show
It is that time of year again when we officially open our galleries of wonderful work, created by our very talented Visual Arts students. All families and friends are invited to attend.
The Art show is on Monday the 14th of October from 5.00pm -7.30pm. Speeches and presentations will be held in the Arrowsmith Centre at 6.00pm.
This year we will announce our top Visual Arts students for each sub school, and present them with their certificates and prizes. Parents of children who have been nominated will be notified this week. We look forward to welcoming you at the event.
CALYSTA MORGAN
Music Teacher
On Thursday 29th of August, selected Middle School students attended the Integrate Audio-Visual Conference, at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. Aimar Peoples, Ben Wheeler, Camryn Stubbs and Shanaye Whiteside, along with students from a range of other schools including: Kingswood College, OLMC Heidelberg, Geelong College, and Shelford Girls’ Grammar, spent the day in a ‘AV Crew Tech Challenge’. This involved attending their choice of sessions from a curated list about sound, lighting, audio, STEM, tech and peripherals.
In addition, students needed to navigate their way through a floor full of exhibitors demonstrating the latest in technology, and speak to particular representatives about the products they had on display. There was a huge array of screens and projectors, microphones, sound proofing, smart boards, mixers, servers, cameras, cabling, and computers; as well as free coffee which could be ordered via slick automated systems. Students were able to play with everything from smoke machines to touch screens, and received a goody bag, and other freebies throughout the day for their participation.
Oakleigh Grammar’s AV Tech Patrick Lee, who has been a member of sponsoring organisation AVIXA for some time, was instrumental in organising the opportunity for the students. Ben Wheeler and Cam Stubbs have been assisting with live production at OG for a while now, and were joined by Shanaye to act as the technical crew for the recent Leadership Day performances. It was a really special opportunity to be able to attend an industry-level event such as Integrate, and even more exciting to have students being able to develop authentic and relevant 21st century skills through active participation in live production at School events.
TRACY SARROFF
Art Teacher
Telstra Grant: Year 6 Visual Arts
This year, the Arts department acquired a special grant from Telstra, for the purpose of creating outdoor murals with Year 6 students. Once completed, the murals will inject some vivacity and conversation to the walls of our inner courtyard buildings.
To paint the murals, students gathered inspiration from their inquiry into the intersecting ideas of art, science and the natural world. In this unit, students have been exposed to practices and ideas such as botanical illustration, genetic engineering, microscopy and a range of historic and contemporary artists known for creating work inspired by science. The activity fulfills the national promotion of STEM initiatives (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths), while realising the relevance and integrated importance of the Arts. Adding the Arts to STEM (‘A’ to STEAM), builds richer educational outcomes that realise the value of creative thinking, expression and the exploration of ideas.
While much more could be said on this topic, the main difference between STEM and STEAM is STEM explicitly focuses on scientific concepts. STEAM investigates the same concepts, but does this through inquiry and problem-based learning methods used in the creative process. As an IB World School, Oakleigh Grammar values the promotion of interdisciplinary learning. Students demonstrate interdisciplinary understanding when they bring together concepts, methods, or forms of communication from two or more disciplines, or established areas of expertise so that they can explain a phenomenon, solve a problem, create a product, or raise a new question in ways that would have been unlikely through a single discipline.
School Holiday Activities
Looking for something to do over the holidays? The National Gallery of Victoria provides a range of engaging activities for toddlers through to teenagers. Bookings are essential. However, attending the gallery with your child requires no booking for most of the exhibitions. This includes an interactive play-based gallery space dedicated to children on the ground floor.
Toddlers Under 4: Hands On Activities
See website for various sessions.
Teenagers 13-17: Workshop with Artist, Jahnne Pasco-White
See website for various sessions.
Teenagers 13-17 (18 with secondary school ID):
When: Saturday 21st September
Time: 6pm-9pm
Terracotta Warriors and Cai Guo-Qiang is on display until October 13th. The NGV have special extended hours over the school holidays.
The Archibald Prize at Tarrawarra Museum of Art, Yarra Valley
The Tarrawarra Museum of Art, just one hour north east of Melbourne, is a unique philanthropic and award winning architectural gallery. It is also a cellar door winery. Located near Healesville in the Yarra Valley, it is approximately one hour drive from Melbourne.
From the 14th of September to the 5th of November, the museum will be presenting the Archibald Prize, Australia’s most famous portrait prize. The winning artist will be awarded $100,000 for a painting of their sitter – famous in Art, Science or Politics. Enjoying the museum’s beautiful setting, food and beverages with your family is also well worth the visit.