Large painting for exhibition

A group of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from Brisbane Water Secondary College, Umina Campus, have been involved in creating a large painting for the "Darkinjung Community - Standing Strong" exhibition at Gosford Regional Gallery.

The painting is now at the gallery and can be viewed until August 3.

The exhibition also includes artworks by local adult indigenous artists and an art market.

The campus' art department is adapting to the increased art production of Year 7 and 8 students.

Head teacher of creative arts Mr Lynch said: "We endeavour to provide quality art experiences to all students in a variety of art forms, including painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics and printmaking.

"New strategies are being developed to physically handle large quantities of artworks that have to be made in class."

Year 7 students have just finished producing around 1000 individual prints that had to be made, dried and handled in class.

More than 70 bags of clay were purchased and stored in classrooms in preparation for ceramic pot making by Year 8 students.

During the building and air-drying process about 380 pots will have to be stored in classrooms for several weeks before being moved to the ceramics area where they will be carefully packed into the kilns, unpacked after firing, returned to rooms for glazing and decoration, returned to the kilns for a second firing, and again returned to rooms.

Mr Lynch said: "There is a small factory operating at Umina and I would welcome any interested parent or community member who has the 'art bug' and would like to help out to contact me at school.

"It would sometimes be dirty work (involving dust) but you would be a very appreciated volunteer."

School newsletter, June 18