The inaugural class of the Year 10 Visual Arts Catalyst program held a lunchtime exhibition of their works on Friday 16 June. The students were very proud to display their artworks from this program in which they are coached rather than taught. There is no formal assessment in the program as the focus is on the inherent joy of learning, which made their exhibition even more important.
This enthusiastic group of students worked individually or in groups to create artwork in any medium of their choosing. Students explored mediums, and techniques, developed ideas and worked towards having one or more artworks to exhibit. This exhibition had approximately 30 works on display, including drawings, paintings, pottery, digital photography, and video art.
Below are student reflections about what they have learnt in the program:
In the Visual Arts Catalyst program, I have learnt that it’s alright to not be happy all the time with art you create. Perfectionism can end up being more detrimental to your art than anything else. It’s alright to take a breath of fresh air every now and then, and without ‘bad’, ‘good’ cannot exist. I've experimented with different paints, canvases, processes, such as lino cuts and prints, as well as art styles. Sometimes you can pick up things in the process that stay with you forever, like a certain method, style or technique that you never knew you liked. I like to draw inspiration from real life and my own experiences. My art is always evolving, and through the Catalyst program, I've learnt to be more accepting of this.
— Alexis D (Year 10 Silver)
In the Visual Arts Catalyst program, I have learnt how to throw clay using the pottery wheel. I was completely new to this at the start of this year, but I have been able to gradually progress my skills. Each artwork contains one of three pots (one pre-owned, two handmade) and other various objects that I either created or already owned. I learnt about how different levels, colours, and the direction of light can affect the visual appearance and emotion of a scene, which helped me greatly in conveying each stage of grief with inanimate objects.
— Patrick V (Year 10 Gold)
I have built connections with other people with a passion for art through the Catalyst program and I been exposed to more art forms than I could have imagined. I personally have experimented with drawing, sketching, photography, photoshop, and painting. In terms of the themes, I took a lot of inspiration from my own experiences and ideas I’ve come up with throughout the years. This class has taught me the time and dedication it takes to be an artist and some of the skills required for the job.
— Beau H (Year 10 Silver)
