2015 School Magazine

CREATIVE ARTS

VISUAL ART NYSSA JOHNSTON (12W)

and woah, here it is. However, think about this, Yayoi Kusama started to paint using polka dots and nets as motifs around age ten and created fantastic paintings in watercolour, pastels and oils. Growing up, Kusama, from a conservative family whose wealth was derived from the management of seed nurseries, experienced hallucinations and severe obsessive thoughts about polka dots. Kusama once stated, ‘A polka-dot has the form of the sun, which is a symbol of the energy of the whole world and our living life, and also the form of the moon, which is calm. Round, soft, colourful, senseless and unknowing. Polka dots become movement ... Polka dots are a way to infinity’. Kusama used polka dots as a remedy for her anxiety. From Japan to New York, throughout Europe and now Brisbane, the girls and myself were so privileged to be able to experience works with such an incredible story behind them. Not only has it opened our eyes to the history of works but also given us a greater understanding of social class, culture and tradition.

From Yayoi Kusama and David Lynch, to contemporary Queensland art and ‘We Can Make Another Future’ — an exhibition dedicated to forty contemporary Japanese artists, Grammar girls have been fortunate to experience many genres of the art world this year. A huge thank you to Ms McKean who kindly organised the art walks and who together with Ms Thornquist guided us through the pieces, explaining their true meaning, the materials, the history of the work and most importantly their individual interpretation. I personally, along with the other girls, experienced local and national art but also international art brought to us right here in Brisbane. Incredible! It may not seem like a big deal, you put a canvas on a boat or plane

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DRAMA My experience in Drama this year was exciting and different. In Drama, I unlock my spirit and let my imagination take over. Every time we are performing an act or play I put myself in an actress’s shoes so I can feel the experience myself! Drama is full of excitement and tension. Every lesson so far, I have had fun and always learnt something new! OLIVIA HE (7E) From the very start of the year, Drama proved to be an enjoyable, stimulating and creative subject. Throughout the first term, we studied voice and movement and used the techniques we learnt in class to develop an abstract movement piece using visual stimulus based around the concept of Imagined Places. During the second term, we studied the play Compass and learnt imaginative ways to shape dramatic action and deliver dialogue appropriate to our characters. I particularly enjoyed working in small groups to block scenes for Compass , figuring out different ways to develop my character. CLAUDIA TALBOT (8O)

I thoroughly enjoy attending Drama classes. I am encouraged to explore complex, unusual roles that I would normally never attempt. I am pulled out of my comfort zone and grow closer to girls I didn’t know beforehand. I am really happy with my decision to choose Drama as one of my electives. ISABEL HORSLEY (9G) I love Drama as it is really interesting to create and develop different characters and pieces. I love using empathy to understand the ideas of a script, and taking it further to create a piece that has depth and meaning. I have enjoyed every one of my Drama classes, and look forward to learning new things in the future. MADDY PREBBLE (9E)