From the Arts Department

There's always plenty going on in the Arts and Design space at Good Shepherd. Check out the latest below!

Written by Cassandra Holland, Arts/Design Learning Area Coordinator

Inspiring creativity at the Exit Art Exhibition

The Arts Team is excited to share with you the awesome experience our Year 9 and 10 students had at the annual Exit Art Exhibition in February. Held at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT), this event allowed our students to explore the incredible artwork of the Year 12 students of 2023, offering a glimpse into the artistic potential that lies ahead for them.

As our students walked through the gallery, their reactions were both awe and amazement, reflecting the genuine inspiration sparked by the remarkable pieces on display. 

“Wow, is this what we can do when we are in Year 12?” 

“Miss, how do students make artwork that’s so good?” 

One student even expressed the bold aspiration: 

“I am going to be here in two years when I do Year 12!” 

MAGNT Education Officer, Jude Dawson, commented on how interested and polite our students were. Their level of enthusiasm highlights the impact that exposure to high-quality art can have on young talents, fuelling their ambition to continually improve. 

Attending this exhibition annually has proven to be a valuable tradition for our Year 9 and 10 students. It serves as a unique opportunity for them to witness outstanding art produced by Northern Territory students.

We extend our gratitude to the organisers of the Exit Art Exhibition for providing such a valuable experience, every year, for our students. We also acknowledge Mikayla Baldwin, one of our very own 2023 Year 12 graduates, whose artwork is featured in the exhibition. 

We encourage anyone that hasn’t yet been to check out the exhibition, which will remain on show until 2 June 2024.

New equipment revolutionising ceramics

Thanks to the school’s commitment to fostering innovation and creativity, we are thrilled to share that we have recently acquired a game-changing piece of ceramics equipment: the slab roller.

This new addition has brought about a significant transformation in the creative processes of our ceramic artists. Gone are the days of spending up to an hour preparing clay before the real creativity can begin – now that we have the the slab roller, our students have more time to unleash their artistic potential, allowing for a more immersive and productive studio experience.

We extend our sincere appreciation to the school and our fee-paying parents for investing in and renewing our resources. Year 12 ceramic artist, Doug Dupree, shared his enthusiasm about the impact of this new equipment: 

“This piece of equipment is a game-changer for me in Year 12. What used to take me an hour to do now takes me literally two minutes, as I roll a slab of any thickness in an instant to use when making vessels.” 

We are extremely excited about the possibilities this equipment will open up for our budding artists. We look forward to seeing the incredible ceramic creations that will emerge from our studio as a result of this innovative addition.