Students hear Archibald winner

Archibald Prize winning artist, 83-year-old Guy Warren and other artists spoke about their work to 80 year 12 students from Brisbane Water Secondary School at the Gosford Regional Gallery recently.

The visit was organised by head teacher of creative and performing arts at the college's senior campus, Ms Sueanne Matthews.

Ms Matthews successfully organised "Case Study in a Day" on Friday, May 7, involving Year 12 students from Lisarow High School, Northlakes High School, Morriset High School, Narara Valley High School, Henry Kendall High School, Gorokan High School, as well as Brisbane Water Secondary College.

Mr Warren currently has a retrospective show at the gallery.

He was awarded Australia's Archibald Prize in 1985 for his portrait Flugelman with Wingman, and was awarded the Order of Australia in 1999.

His work focuses on the interdependent relationship between humans and the environment.

Using bright and bold colours, he works with oils and watercolours.

"The idea was to make the students' art theory real, within the gallery context, and with the artist talking about their own work," Ms Matthews said.

"It is connecting the HSC syllabus content to a real event.

"Case studies provide a means of studying particular cases in the visual arts.

"Their function in the classroom is to illustrate a point or something of significance.

"In terms of quality teaching, this is intellectual quality and significance, all rolled into a relevant learning experience for our students," Ms Matthews said.

Also speaking on the day were artists Barbara McKay and Jamie Sargeant and curators Katrina Cashman and Tim Braham.

Press release, newsletter, May 26 David Beattie, Brisbane Water Secondary College, Woy Woy campus Internet research