art | Sydney Catholic Schools

Recognising young artists

Sydney Catholic Schools’ inaugural Portrait Prize is giving students from Kindergarten to Year 12 the chance to have their work displayed at the Art Gallery of NSW.

The annual Portrait Prize celebrates students’ talents, and allows students to recognise and appreciate those close to them.

Students have been invited to produce a portrait of a person who is special to them – someone who is well-known to them and who plays a significant role in their life. The 2022 theme is: Me, You, Us.

“This is an amazing opportunity for schools to showcase their student’s artwork,” said Dr Kate O’Brien, Director of Education and Research at Sydney Catholic schools.

“The Portrait Prize is aligned with syllabus outcomes, and learning modules have been developed to be used remotely or face-to-face to help inform student learning.”

A virtual exhibition will be launched on Wednesday 16 March on the Sydney Catholic Schools website, and prizes will be awarded in each of the following categories:

5-8 year-olds
9-12 year-olds
13-15 year-olds
16-18 year-olds

The finalists will represent Sydney Catholic Schools in the Young Archie competition, run by the Art Gallery of NSW.

A large number of aspiring artists from across our schools have already submitted entries.

As part of the artistic process, many have reflected on culture and identity and how this is rooted in their family, school community, culture and nation. The brain-boosting benefits of an Amadeus music education

Isabell PetrinicFebruary 23, 2022|

St Felix talent draws a crowd

St Felix’s Catholic Primary School Bankstown have unearthed some budding young artists after its students participated in a unique art literacy program run by the State Library of NSW’s Multicultural Unit.

In partnership with the Sydney Catholic Schools Refugee Liaison Program, the State Library facilitated several workshops designed for EAL/D (English as an additional language/dialect), refugee and vulnerable students.

The students were treated to a special visit to the State Library as part of the program.

The workshops were overseen by the State Library’s Education Officer, Andrea Sturgeon.

They ran over two blocks, with guided drawing classes over Zoom in Term 1 and a series of online portraiture sessions in Term 3.

As part of the program, St Felix students also visited the State Library in Sydney, where they were treated to a tour of the library, morning tea and a private art lesson.

Together, the sessions aimed to build language development through art and expose students to new materials, techniques and concepts.

Keen from the get-go

Sylvia Braden, a teacher at St Felix, said the students really embraced the opportunities that the workshops presented to them.

“They were very eager to take part right from the start,” Mrs Braden said.

“The students were excited about using materials they had never used before, like oil pastel crayons and oil tip pens for example.

“There was an overwhelming response to each workshop, with more than 160 students attending each of the three portraiture sessions that were run in Term 3.”

A whole new palette

Mrs Braden said there was a big shift in confidence among the students who participated in the workshops.

“It really opened their minds and encouraged conversation and questioning” – Sylvia Braden

“The language that they were exposed to – language specific to art – was …

domenictrimboli01September 24, 2021|

Draw your neighbourhood art project

Child friendly neighbourhoods portrayed through art were the focus of Sydney Catholic Schools’ 2021 National Child Protection Week art competition.

The art competition was organised by Sydney Catholic Schools’ Supervisor: Child Safety, Sandra Reynolds, to coincide with the National Association for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect’s (NAPCAN) annual Child Protection Week (5-11 September).

Sophia De Paoli’s winning entry.

“Sydney Catholic Schools’ art competition invited schools to talk to their students about their neighbourhoods and then ask them to draw or paint an artwork that reflected their views,” Ms Reynolds said. Participation was wholly voluntary.

Leanne Trinh’s runner-up entry.

“Congratulations to Year 5 student Sophia De Paoli, from Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School Carnes Hill, for her wonderful artwork and being our winner,” Ms Reynolds said.

The runners-up were: Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Primary School Kingsgrove Year 6 School Captain, Leanne Trinh, and Holy Spirit Carnes Hill Year 4 student, Charlotte Gauci.

Charlotte Gauci’s runner-up entry.

Sophia will receives a $100 Dymocks gift voucher and Certificate of Achievement, and Leanne and Charlotte will each receive a $50 Dymocks gift voucher and Certificate of Achievement for their efforts.

Ms Reynolds said a digital copy of all artwork will be sent to NAPCAN and may feature on their website and in their campaign. COVID-19: WHAT EVERY CHILD NEEDS RIGHT NOW

Isabell PetrinicSeptember 7, 2021|

A show of hands for NAIDOC Week

As part of 2020 NAIDOC Week celebrations one Sydney Catholic school has unveiled unique child hand drawings steeped in tradition and colour.

“My hand pattern reminds me of the proud and positive feelings I have about my culture,” said St Therese’s Catholic Primary School Mascot Indigenous student, Charli Symonds.

Aboriginal Catholic Ministry executive officer, Dr Lisa Buxton, said she worked with 19 Indigenous students from Kindergarten to Year 6 at the school over several months, including Charli, to help co-create the artwork.

“The artwork features the hands of all the student-artists and the three circles and lines at the centre of the painting symbolises travel and the stages of the students’ learning journeys,” Dr Buxton said.

The finished artwork has been scanned and made into plaques, unveiled by principal Gabrielle McAnespie at a special assembly. These will be placed in each of the school’s 21 classrooms, offices and specialist classrooms.

“I like how we have an event like NAIDOC Week, to acknowledge and celebrate our traditions and culture”– Charli Symonds

“The project started as a short film where the students filmed their own ‘Acknowledgement of Country’ while sharing stories about their culture and traditions,” Dr Buxton said.

“It ended with both a film and an artwork where they chose colours to represent their own individual ideas about what ‘Acknowledgement of Country’ means to them as young Aboriginal people today.”

Year 6 student, Luke Chenhall, said he very much liked the idea of the plaques in the classrooms, saying “they act as an inspiration to the younger children.”

Charli, who is in Year 5, said the plaque shows “the amazing things Indigenous people have done for the land” and acknowledges them as the first people of the land “which is a terrific thing.”

By: JUDE THOMAS

Watch the video …

Isabell PetrinicNovember 12, 2020|

‘Art runs in my blood’

This young indigenous Sydney Catholic Schools student is making big waves in the art world.

Not only has Billy Reynolds designed kits for Cricket Australia’s ‘Woolworths Cricket Blast’ program, which teaches Aboriginal kids aged 5 to 10 years the basic skills of cricket.

The Marcellin College Randwick Year 12 student also designed the NRL’s 2020 Indigenous Round jersey for the Wests Tigers, which they wore in round 12.

“To see the Tigers run out with my jersey was amazing,” Billy said. “I am so glad I could design a jersey for such a wonderful community as the West Tigers.”

Marcellin College Randwick student Billy Reynolds models the West Tigers’ Indigenous Round jersey he designed.

Billy designed the jersey while taking part in the NRL School to Work education and employment program, aimed at helping indigenous students finish school and build career pathways once they finish secondary education.

“When I began painting my dad and I joked about getting my artwork on a jersey, thinking it was a long shot and that it probably wouldn’t happen,” recounted Billy.

“A few years later that same dream has come true! When I got the email that I had won the competition, I jumped out of my seat and ran to my family to tell them.”

“To see the Tigers run out with my jersey was amazing” – Billy Reynolds

The artwork he created for the Cricket Australia kit was called Sleeping Goanna.

“Originally the artwork was red but, because of the Woolworths colours, they changed it to green,” Billy said. “I’m really happy with how it came out.”

All of Billy’s art inspiration comes from his indigenous heritage and his passion for design.

“Being of indigenous heritage, …

Isabell PetrinicNovember 9, 2020|

The Indigenous girls who designed an NRL jersey

The Indigenous round holds great importance in the NRL calendar. This year, the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs entrusted the design of their special commemorative jersey for round 12 to the students of all-girls Bethlehem Catholic College in Ashfield.

“It’s breath taking,” said one of the designers, Bethlehem College student Chanel, of the Kamilaroi and Gomeroi nations.

“Being involved in this project makes me feel proud and happy to be a part of something so rare. As a young Indigenous woman, I feel more connected to my culture and more recognised by the community.”

The design was created by a team of students at her school of various Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds, who did extensive research into the local area’s peoples, their traditions, totems and key flora and fauna as part of the project.

Taryn, of the Wiradjuri nation, said the inspiration for the jersey design came from the stories and lands of the local Aboriginal tribes, including the Wangal tribe.

“This design is about community, identity, and solidarity with the symbols used portraying players, supporters and the wider NRL community coming together to celebrate our culture” – Taryn

The jersey features the Cooks River, an important geographical point for traditional owners, according to fellow student Darci, of the Wiadjuri and Dunghutti peoples.

“The Wangal people used the river as a resource for food, water and to bathe in,” said Darci.

“Myself and the rest of the girls used our time to design and research about the Dreamtime stories, land and people. We also told a few of our own stories, to have a complete understanding of the whole project.

“We used animal tracks, such as the emu, snake, kangaroo and echidna. The stars (on the jersey) represent the Indigenous players’ ancestors. …

BenjaminJuly 29, 2020|

Recognising young artists

St Felix talent draws a crowd

Keen from the get-go

A whole new palette

Draw your neighbourhood art project

A show of hands for NAIDOC Week

‘Art runs in my blood’

The Indigenous girls who designed an NRL jersey

We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which our schools and offices now stand. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.

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