News
Year 12 annual art excursion
It's that time of year again for the annual Year 12 Art excursion, were the art students of 2018, accompanied by the teachers Mr Kirk Watts and Mrs Catherine Jones make there way to their first stop The Museum of Contemporary Art.
Rising at the crack of dawn the students started their memorable adventure to there first stop The Museum of Contemporary Art. From there to The Art Gallery of NSW. Year 12 were inspired by the marvelous pieces of art that they observed. Lastly, making their final stop at The National Art Gallery of Australia in Canberra. Additionally, Ideas blossomed between the students and teachers to further their own development of their HSC Major artworks.
The year 12 students who attended the excursion were able to gain multiple interpretations, perspectives and variations of arts created by the talented students of 2017 which had their HSC Art Major chosen for the ARTEXPRESS exhibition at the Art Gallery of NSW.
By Tess O'Shaughnessy
Creative Arts Assistant
Rising at the crack of dawn the students started their memorable adventure to there first stop The Museum of Contemporary Art. From there to The Art Gallery of NSW. Year 12 were inspired by the marvelous pieces of art that they observed. Lastly, making their final stop at The National Art Gallery of Australia in Canberra. Additionally, Ideas blossomed between the students and teachers to further their own development of their HSC Major artworks.
The year 12 students who attended the excursion were able to gain multiple interpretations, perspectives and variations of arts created by the talented students of 2017 which had their HSC Art Major chosen for the ARTEXPRESS exhibition at the Art Gallery of NSW.
By Tess O'Shaughnessy
Creative Arts Assistant
Year 7 Go to the Japanese Gardens
The morning of Tuesday the 13th, Year 7, along with Miss Cramond, Mrs Hines and myself departed on the Year Seven’s first Visual Arts excursion to the Japanese Gardens, helping to further the students’ knowledge of the artist Monet, who is currently being studied in class. We arrived at the Japanese Gardens were
these talented students were able to photograph multiple aspects of the gardens. These images will later be edited and painted by the students in practical lessons in class. After taking their beautiful images, it was time to find a quiet area were the students were able to practice their sketching skills by drawing into their Visual Arts diaries, incorporating the environment that they were observing. However, this all had to end at some point, after finally gathering all the students onto the bus, the multiple head checks… Year Seven, class of 2018 said their final goodbyes to the Japanese Gardens.
By Tess O'Shaughnessy
Creative Arts Assistant
these talented students were able to photograph multiple aspects of the gardens. These images will later be edited and painted by the students in practical lessons in class. After taking their beautiful images, it was time to find a quiet area were the students were able to practice their sketching skills by drawing into their Visual Arts diaries, incorporating the environment that they were observing. However, this all had to end at some point, after finally gathering all the students onto the bus, the multiple head checks… Year Seven, class of 2018 said their final goodbyes to the Japanese Gardens.
By Tess O'Shaughnessy
Creative Arts Assistant
HSC Visual Art Exhibition 2017
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The annual Year 12 Art HSC Major Works exhibition represents the culmination of a year’s work. As usual there was a large variety of high quality works on display with many family members, friends and people from the community there to witness and support all the hard work and talent on show.
There were three awards presented on the evening. The People’s Choice Award went to Meg Cusack for her beautiful work ‘Always on my mind’. The Artworld Award selected by a curator from Western Plains Cultural Centre was awarded to Minnie Harvey for her work ‘Permanent Reflections and Shifting Waters’. Each year the College also has an acquisitive prize judged by our Principal Mrs Kerry Morris. The works from this prize remain with the College and go on display for all to enjoy. With such high quality works on offer Mrs Morris decided to choose three works rather than the usual one. Josh Jasprizza’s ‘Untitled (for a friend)’, Martha Haycock’s ‘Out of Sync’ and Grace Dunn’s work ’Face Value’. Congratulations to the award winners and to all the students for their hard work. Thanks also to those who came to support and witness the students amazing efforts after their emotional roller-coaster year. 
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Year 11 Visual Arts Exhibition 2017
Oh Captain, My Captain
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The Year 11 exhibition of 2017 was a great turn out with family and friends as well as peers and teachers there to see there final work for their preliminary Visual Arts Course. In this stage of assessment, the students pick a teacher from the St Johns College staff. In this portrait, students are asked to represent through their medium of choice, something about the staff member that others within the school and community may not know.
Congratulations to our winner of 'People's Choice' Grace Gilbert for her drawing of Mr Greg Patterson titled, 'Meraki (the essence of self that goes into your work'. |
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Congratulations to our Artexpress Students
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A huge congratulations to our HSC students Gemma Handley and Emma Galley for both making it into Artexpress for 2016 displaying. Also a big congratulations to Maddi Alderdice who was also nominated for the 2016 Artexpress exhibitions.
HSC Visual Art Exhibition 2016
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In the annual honour of our Year 12 students hard work, their HSC Major artworks were placed on exhibition by the Visual Arts Department which was held on Friday the 9th of September 2016.
This was a huge success as many family, friends, teachers and members of the community came to celebrate in awe, the Year 12’s hard work.
We wish to congratulate both Maddi Alderdice and Emma Galley who both shared the ‘People’s Choice Award’.
We would like to say a big thank you to those who came to see and celebrate the student’s achievements. We also would like to congratulate our Year 12 for all their constant dedication to their works for the last 12 months, it has most definitely paid off.
Finally, a huge thank you to Kirk Watts and Catherine Jones for all their efforts in making the exhibition happen and the support and guidance given to the students with their challenging tasks over the last 12 months. Another thank you to Kane Dawson, who helped Catherine out in the beginning of the challenge with her students, providing his support and guidance in the process of getting them started.
Three of our students were nominated for Artexpress; Maddi Alderdice, Gemma Handley and Emma Galley. With Gemma and Emma being successful in this selection process, and now their works are being exhibited in certain art galleries in New South Wales among other HSC Art students majors.
Visual Arts Assistant
This was a huge success as many family, friends, teachers and members of the community came to celebrate in awe, the Year 12’s hard work.
We wish to congratulate both Maddi Alderdice and Emma Galley who both shared the ‘People’s Choice Award’.
We would like to say a big thank you to those who came to see and celebrate the student’s achievements. We also would like to congratulate our Year 12 for all their constant dedication to their works for the last 12 months, it has most definitely paid off.
Finally, a huge thank you to Kirk Watts and Catherine Jones for all their efforts in making the exhibition happen and the support and guidance given to the students with their challenging tasks over the last 12 months. Another thank you to Kane Dawson, who helped Catherine out in the beginning of the challenge with her students, providing his support and guidance in the process of getting them started.
Three of our students were nominated for Artexpress; Maddi Alderdice, Gemma Handley and Emma Galley. With Gemma and Emma being successful in this selection process, and now their works are being exhibited in certain art galleries in New South Wales among other HSC Art students majors.
Visual Arts Assistant
Oh Captain, My Captain
Year 11 Staff Portrait Exhibition
19/10/2015
As their final artmaking task for the Preliminary Course, students were required to create a portrait of a St Johns College staff member. The portraits were required to be two dimensional and the students were allowed to work in any medium other than photography. Conceptually the aim of the task was to reveal an aspect of their subject’s character or experience that other students of the college may not be aware of.
The culmination of this assessment was a series of exhibitions of the completed portraits. The first exhibition was a lunch with the artists and their subjects. This was followed by a morning tea the next day with all college staff and the exhibition available for all students to view at lunch. A Friday evening exhibition for family and friends was a beautiful way to finish the formalities.
Throughout the exhibitions voting took place for a people’s choice award. The popular winner of this award was Grace Kinsela with her exquisitely detailed and emotive charcoal drawing of Karen Andriske. The audience was amazed at the realism Grace was able to achieve as well as the way she was able to capture the strong and caring nature of Karen we all admire.
This was the first time we have run this task and its overwhelming success suggests it will continue well into the future. The students produced amazing work and gained valuable experience that will hold them in good stead as they begin planning their HSC Body of Work. I would like to thank all the staff who allowed themselves to be subjects and hope they found the experience as rewarding as the students did.
Below are artworks that scored 48-50.
By Kirk Watts
Creative Arts Coordinator (acting)
Toshack wins Acquisitive Prize
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19/09/2015
We wish to congratulate Alannah Toshack for taking out the 2015 Acquisitive Prize in the Visual Arts Exhibition of HSC works. Students have the option to nominate their work for this prize. It is then judged by the Principal. The winning work is then displayed for at least 12 months in a prominent place in the College. Alannah's work is impressive for its superior drawing and sheer scale. Additionally, the work, I'm Fine, has a pertinent message. It deals with first world problems and narcissism, and how our society is so easily outraged. We can't tell if the subjects in this work scream and cry because they have experienced great tragedy, or if they are celebrating the arrival of a boy band, are devastated by the loss of their favourite team, or have broken a fingernail. By Catherine Jones Creative Arts Coordinator |
Alannah's concept:
First world problems: Problems arising from living in a wealthy, industrialized nation that third worlders would probably roll their eyes at. Urban Dictionary We often over dramatize our individualized problems. We confuse want with need. We want and desire more, to be more and to have more. Once we acquire something new, we set our sights on the next thing, taking our minds away from the issues that really matter. When we look at these crying and screaming faces we don’t know if something serious has happened or if they are screaming at a boy band, crying over celebrity gossip, stuck in traffic or complaining when mum pulls out the “no technology afternoon”. We have lost our perspective towards real problems and real pain, dictated by trivial issues and minor outrages that become our priorities. |
2015 HSC Visual Arts Exhibition huge success
07/09/2015
On Friday evening, the 4th of September, our Visual Arts Department hosted the annual Exhibition of HSC Visual Arts Body's of Work.
This year, 28 students welcomed the challenge of completing a Body of Work for their HSC, and each student was highly successful in achieving their desired outcome.
The Exhibition brought together friends, family, teachers, and many members of the general public, to celebrate the immense hard work and achievement of each student.
We wish to congratulate Madeline Connell, who won the annual "People's Choice" Award for her artwork 72 Hours. Her artwork explored the hardship her parent's faced as they dealt with losing their first child. Madeline's artwork was highly emotive and touched the hearts of many of the audience members, Madeline is deserving of this well sought-after award.
We wish to thank everyone who attending this wonderful celebration of student achievement, we thank Sebastian Fardell for his exquisite bar-tending skills, and we wish to congratulate our Visual Arts students for their hard work and dedication over the last twelve months.
Finally, a huge congratulations and thanks goes to Kirk Watts and Catherine Jones for their effort and organisation of not only the Exhibition evening, but also their patience and support over the last twelve months.
As the wise Jimmy Giggle once said, the 2015 Exhibition of HSC Visual Arts student works was "awesome!".
By Grace Sandry
Visual Arts Assistant
On Friday evening, the 4th of September, our Visual Arts Department hosted the annual Exhibition of HSC Visual Arts Body's of Work.
This year, 28 students welcomed the challenge of completing a Body of Work for their HSC, and each student was highly successful in achieving their desired outcome.
The Exhibition brought together friends, family, teachers, and many members of the general public, to celebrate the immense hard work and achievement of each student.
We wish to congratulate Madeline Connell, who won the annual "People's Choice" Award for her artwork 72 Hours. Her artwork explored the hardship her parent's faced as they dealt with losing their first child. Madeline's artwork was highly emotive and touched the hearts of many of the audience members, Madeline is deserving of this well sought-after award.
We wish to thank everyone who attending this wonderful celebration of student achievement, we thank Sebastian Fardell for his exquisite bar-tending skills, and we wish to congratulate our Visual Arts students for their hard work and dedication over the last twelve months.
Finally, a huge congratulations and thanks goes to Kirk Watts and Catherine Jones for their effort and organisation of not only the Exhibition evening, but also their patience and support over the last twelve months.
As the wise Jimmy Giggle once said, the 2015 Exhibition of HSC Visual Arts student works was "awesome!".
By Grace Sandry
Visual Arts Assistant
Year 12 explore Sydney
09/03/2015
Last Thursday morning our sleepy eyed and sleep deprived Year 12's, accompanied by teachers Kirk Watts and Catherine Jones, began their trek to Sydney for two days of art and fun-filled activities. After a quick stop at McDonald's, fueled with double shot coffees and enough hash browns to clog one's arteries, Year 12 were awake and ready to explore the wonderful realm of art that Sydney has to offer.
From The Armory in Homebush to The Art Gallery of NSW in Central Sydney, students were inspired, or diminished, by the exquisite work and talent of local, national, and international artists. Discussions arose frequently throughout the journey, as students conversed with teachers about possible new experimentation or further developing concepts in their own works.
Our Visual Arts students who attended the excursion were appreciative of all that Sydney's art had to offer, and in particular, were awe struck by the amazing artworks of talented 2014 Visual Arts students that were chosen into the ARTEXPRESS exhibition at The Art Gallery of NSW.
By Grace Sandry
Visual Arts Assistant
Last Thursday morning our sleepy eyed and sleep deprived Year 12's, accompanied by teachers Kirk Watts and Catherine Jones, began their trek to Sydney for two days of art and fun-filled activities. After a quick stop at McDonald's, fueled with double shot coffees and enough hash browns to clog one's arteries, Year 12 were awake and ready to explore the wonderful realm of art that Sydney has to offer.
From The Armory in Homebush to The Art Gallery of NSW in Central Sydney, students were inspired, or diminished, by the exquisite work and talent of local, national, and international artists. Discussions arose frequently throughout the journey, as students conversed with teachers about possible new experimentation or further developing concepts in their own works.
Our Visual Arts students who attended the excursion were appreciative of all that Sydney's art had to offer, and in particular, were awe struck by the amazing artworks of talented 2014 Visual Arts students that were chosen into the ARTEXPRESS exhibition at The Art Gallery of NSW.
By Grace Sandry
Visual Arts Assistant
Spargo exceeds in 2014 HSC Visual Arts
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20/02/2015
A huge congratulations is in order for 2014 HSC Visual Arts student, Emilee Spargo! Emilee's Body of Work, titled Silenced, was selected alongside over 200 other HSC Visual Arts students from around NSW in 2014, in the travelling exhibition, ARTEXPRESS. To put it simply, ARTEXPRESS is to many Visual Arts students what the Holy Grail was to the Knights of the Round Table. At first glance most audience members assume that the comic book imagery in Emily's work has been collaged. However, these have actually been intricately drawn with colour pencil, appropriating original comic cells, changing them to suit her purpose. Her precision in this has been astounding. We congratulate Emilee in her success in being selected for ARTEXPRESS and wish her the best of luck as she furthers her knowledge and practice of art whilst she completes her Bachelor of Fine Arts at University of Newcastle. For those interested in seeing her works, they will be exhibited in Dubbo Regional Gallery, Western Plains Cultural Centre and Art Gallery of NSW. Her work is currently on display at the Art Gallery of NSW, and later this year will be shown at the Western Plains Cultural Centre. By Grace Sandry Visual Arts Assistant |
Emilee's concept:
Eventually women are silenced or objectified in some way. In the era in which the comics were produced, their responsibility was to normalise the idea that it was acceptable and routine for women to be submissive to men. The silencing of women, past and present, is inferred in the way the comics are smothering and gagging the subject. The text in each cell has been changed, not to add meaning that didn't exist but to make that message more explicit. The artworks look inwards to symbolise the closed circuit. The black and white border mimics the cells within the artwork, confining the subject. |