Grammar Gazette- Issue 2, 2003

CREATIVE INDUSTRY IN THE SCHOOL ART COMMUNITY T he more links we can make for students, in as many ways as possible, the richer their education experiences and the more valuable members of society they will be” Our initiatives in the Art Department this year relate to developing a ‘community of learners’. Knowledge management to establish ‘communities of learners’ emerges in professional literature across both the corporate and education sectors, and the importance of establishing self-motivated and self-directed learning is at the core of what is generally seen to be the increasing importance of life long learning. The concept of a community of learners thrives in a school environment such as ours that nurtures and promotes exploration and creativity. In an attempt to identify synergies between Arts organisations and the wider community, the Art Department has had a busy programme of visiting artists. The afternoon Art Workshop series, a joint initiative between BGS and BGGS has continued to be very successful with the sharing of teachers’ expertise and the Schools’ resources for the benefit of the students at both Schools. Workshops have included oil painting with instruction by Stewart Service Head of Art at BGS in conjunction with guest artists Nick Olsen and Ruth Sallows. A black and white photography course has also been offered at BGS featuring guest photographers Carl Warner, Marion Drew, John Byrne and John Wardrop. Digital imaging at BGGS has also been very popular with instruction by Mrs Megan James and Ms Kirsten McCurley from Girls Grammar, with guest artist Lisa Nolan. Printmaking workshops at BGGS with Jonathan Tse from Griffith University were also highly successful. The highlight for both Schools has been the workshops and presentations made by Leah King-Smith, a Queensland artist specialising in innovative photographic techniques. King-Smith is interested in how documentary photographs both inform and misinform people about Indigenous people. She also explores work that gives visual form to the spiritual quality of the Australian bush. Leah gave a guest lecture to Year 10 Art students and has conducted two workshops with students from both Schools. In addition to these workshops, senior students have had the opportunity to participate in the Institute of Modern Art workshops series. Students have also actively supported co-curricular activities including pottery classes and life drawing classes, which have been offered after school hours. Artwork arising from the new art programme was recently entered in the Minister’s Award for Excellence in Youth Art. This Award is unique to Queensland and highly regarded nationally. This year the School experienced outstanding success with the work of both

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Sarah Cohen and Amelia Beer selected to be exhibited at the Queensland Art Gallery in February 2004 with other exemplary student work from around Queensland. The exhibition will then tour regional galleries to showcase excellence in art practice. Of the four works entered in the Awards, all received accolades for the School with Carly Faragher and Katherine Boyd receiving Highly Commended results. Art in our School and in the wider community does give the students a sense of ‘connectedness and belonging’ and is highly effective in uniting Grammar staff and students.

Sarah Cohen Receiving her award