Our new feature walls are nearly complete with the installation of the wonderfully creative group project by the Year Five and Six Students titled, “Indigenous Flora & Fauna of Whitehorse.”
Our new feature walls are nearly complete with the installation of the wonderfully creative group project by the Year Five and Six Students titled, “Indigenous Flora & Fauna of Whitehorse.” Over the past six months the students and I have had the enriching experience of working with landscape painter, Amelda Reed-Forsthye to create our amazing feature walls. The experience of working on such a large scale with approximately 100 students has been hugely ambitious, and was undertaken in the spirit of all participants rising up to meet the challenge of Amelda’s vision. I have witnessed a genuine enthusiasm throughout this time from students and am very proud of how they have applied their creative talents to the project.
With clear instructions about process and explicit teaching of painting skills and application of paint, the students have applied these techniques to an excellent standard and are to be commended on the finished result.
In the next few weeks signage will go up to explain the symbolism of the design and the inspiration taken from our local indigenous flora and fauna. Please drop into the school and take some time to look at the artwork to appreciate the design and discover some of its meaning.
On a personal note I would like to thank Amelda for the many hours of work undertaken both with the students and also her personal time to create the concept for the mural. Her dedication to the vision, lovely sense of rhythm, balance and design, sensibility for colour and incredible creative talent has been an inspiration to all. It really has been a joy. Thank you!
This project would not have been possible without the support of The Whitehorse City Council’s, ‘Artists in Schools’ Programme and for this the Visual Arts Department and Burwood Heights School community is very appreciative.
It should also be mentioned Bunnings on Middleborough Road were very kind to donate the plywood and priming paint required for the mural. This community support makes such a big difference to what can be achieved in our schools and provides wonderful learning opportunities for students that would not otherwise be possible. Thank you Bunnings!
The ART SHOW has been scheduled for Thursday 16th October and will showcase every student’s artwork from Foundation to Year 6. This year our theme is ‘Australia’ and already we have amassed a tremendous amount of work to exhibit! I am asking parents to put forward any fundraising ideas that the parent body could support on the night as a way of raising funds for the school. Your input would be greatly appreciated.
Jacqui Carslake
(Visual Art Teacher)