Our faculty had a dynamic year in 2020. Great works were produced by our students, significant new equipment was purchased and major changes to pedagogy were introduced.
Our top highlights were:
Artexpress
Warners Bay High School is thrilled to announce the nomination of three HSC Bodies of Work for ARTEXPRESS 2020. Congratulations to India G, Bianca M and Eden I.
ARTEXPRESS is an annual exhibition featuring a selection of outstanding student artworks developed for the artmaking component of the HSC examination in Visual Arts in NSW. Well done to India G, Bianca M, and Eden I. Their artworks have been chosen to feature in this prestigious exhibition.
First Class 20
Our 2020 HSC Visual Arts students created outstanding artworks and we celebrate the inclusion of student works in the First Class 20 exhibition at the Museum of Art and Culture (MAC). The exhibition maintains a tradition of curating around a theme from outstanding work produced by Hunter and Central Coast HSC Visual Arts students. From the 2020 cohort Warners Bay High School had six students selected to exhibit their work. Congratulations to Sophie D, Alivia D, Alanna K, Jacinta L, Cassidy M, and Holly Q.
Mural In A box
Our Major Art Project this year was a magnificent mural painted by Year 9 Visual Arts students. Students were first to undertake the new Mural in a Box project. Natalie S led the students through the process installing the wall designed by Sydney Street Artist, Crisp. Students worked as a team through each stage to install the mural and they developed new skills through the use of stencilling and layering mural templates on a large scale. The students had a terrific time creating this public art install.
MAD Night
2020 was not the norm for our students to be given the usual opportunity to perform, exhibit and manage equipment at our MAD Night performances. So, we adapted to the times of COVID and used the platform of a virtual exhibition space to showcase the amazing talents of student from across The Arts within the school and wider community. Our aim for MAD Night is to engage students and the wider community by encouraging creativity and to inspire everyone to think differently about making artworks, performing, connecting to others and reflect on how the Arts fit in a modern world. The artworks and performances on show highlight the passion and dedication of the CAPA staff. We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support.
Visual Arts GATS
Thank you to Mrs Martin, all the staff, students, and parents who made our Visual Arts GATS program a wonderful and inspirational experience. The co-ordination, development and implementation of the Visual Arts GATS program creates community partnerships within the Warners Bay area enabling Years 5 and 6 students from Warners Bay, Eleebana, Valentine and Biddabah Primary Schools to work with Visual Arts teachers and artists to participate in this year’s Mixed Media Portrait Program. The program consisted of a full day workshop designed for students to create a series of artworks depicting various mark making techniques that were used to create a composition for a final self-portrait artwork. The end products were very impressive and expressive with historical visual links to artists Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso. This program encouraged students to be active members of the school community and promoted a sense of positivity toward visual creativity.
Charlestown Library
In partnership with Charlestown Library and the Lake Macquarie Council, we created three mini exhibitions at Charlestown Library showcasing Year 9 Ceramic students’ Zoo animal Trophies and Cultural Pots; Year 10 Ceramic students’ Teapot, Grayson Perry and Organica works; and Year 10 Visual Arts students’ Still Life drawings.
Musician and Artist of the Month
The CAPA Faculty continued the concept of Artist of the Month and Musician of the Month to highlight the success of students in individual Visual Arts, Ceramics, Photography and Digital Media and Music classes and to celebrate individual learning outside the assessment and reporting frameworks. Twelve students received this prestigious award encouraging participation and confidence in their artmaking and the depth of talent in music classes.
Finite Gallery Student Art Prize
The Finite Gallery Student Art Prize is an annual Visual Arts competition open to all school age children. The CAPA Faculty were thrilled at the announcement of Visual Arts student Georgia H as the 1st place Prize Winner for the Finite Gallery Art Prize 2020. Mya S and Ella H were awarded Highly Commended and Lilly T and Matthew C were awarded Commended. The awards celebrate the importance of Visual Arts in education and the quality of artworks created by students. The Student Art Prize is an important event that recognises the work of talented secondary-school level art students and exhibits their work to a wide and engaged audience. It celebrates the importance of Visual Arts and engages with the local community and encouraging cultural development.
HSC Visual Arts Day
Fifteen Year 12 Visual Arts students participated in the launch of the first Hunter Visual Arts Study Day 2020, an intensive study day Artists & Practice which was designed to provide inspiration, artist case studies and technical expertise for students commencing their final year of Visual Art. Students were given the opportunity to visit Newcastle City Hall, Civic Park, Newcastle Art Gallery and Watt Space Gallery where they participated in a number of workshops, exhibitions and lectures. The highlight of the day was meeting internationally renowned Australian artist, George Gittoes. The Study Day was a valuable experience designed to support the NSW Visual Arts Stage 6 Syllabus and provide students the knowledge and opportunity to push their artistic boundaries in the development of their Body of Work.
Teachers
Mrs Pfister and Mr Burton were provided with the opportunity to undertake HSC Visual Arts Critical and Historical examination marking to develop strategies for students to enhance deep knowledge and understanding of the theoretical components of Visual Arts.
Mr Forbes was provided with the opportunity to undertake HSC Music Performance examination marking to develop strategies for students to enhance deep knowledge and understanding of the practical components of Music.
