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Zart Extra Term 1 2011

Artist in Residence

Laburnum Primary School

Murals

In Term 1, 2010 Laburnum Primary School received a grant from the City of Whitehorse, Artist in Schools Program. This grant enabled the school to have artist Jane Byrne for 11 days to work on a painted mural which was to be located in their school hall at the back of the stage. The theme for the mural was to reflect the School Values of Integrity, Respect, Responsibility, Passion and Optimism.

The vision of the mural was to reflect through images, the values of the school in such a way that it would give pleasure, excitement, optimism and a sense of innocence to the viewer. Children from years prep to six worked with their art teacher Julie McCarthy and the artist in residence to brainstorm images that would reflect their value statements. The Fable by James Thurber “The Moth and the Star” printed in the story collection Fables for Our Time in 1940 was used as a brainstorming activity to lead the discussion with the students. This Fable was used as the focus for the mural, “Always reach and do your personal best in whatever you strive to do”.

Students also looked at the magnificent environment that surrounds their school, as they back on to Blacks Walk and Gardiners Creek which has an abundance of flora and fauna.
Images created an allegory, a story that the children and school community could relate to and aspire to in everyday life.

Integrity

Symbolized by children flying up to and reaching for the stars; doing their best as stars come out every night and shine.
The height of the Laburnum tree reflects reaching upwards, growing tall and coming into blossom.

Passion and Optimism

Reflected in the happy faces of the children and the colours of their clothing.

Responsibility

Displayed by the horse and the relationship between man and horse. Man relies on the horse to get the job done, ploughing fields and the like. In return the horse relies on the man to feed and groom him and also for friendship.
The horse is the emblem for The City of Whitehorse in which the school is located.
The children holding hands represent taking care of each other.
The ducks, which are commonly seen near the school grounds, are references for being responsible and looking after their little ones.
The Laburnum tree and blossoms reflect looking after the environment and nurturing the land. It is also the School Insignia.

Respect

The children holding up the world with the continents, which are silhouettes of Australian animals, reflects the responsibility that this generation has to look after the environment and take care of the water. The respect we have for the beautiful eco system that Laburnum has all around it was a focus.

Friendship was shown in the holding of hands and the responsibility we have to each other. The teddy was a symbol for when times get tough and you need another friend to get you through, some one who isn’t going to judge you but loves you for who you are.

The children depicted in the mural also represent the multiculturalism of the school.

Three individual pine timber frames measuring 5 metres high and 7 metres wide were constructed by parents. These were stretched with 200gsm100% cotton theatrical canvas, which was available in 3 metre widths. This was primed with Art Spectrum Gesso.  
Jane Byrne designed and transposed the students’ drawings onto the canvases.
Each canvas had to be painted on its side as the students could not reach the top areas of the canvas stretcher areas as they were too high and it was impossible to use ladders.
Once the design and drawings were sketched onto the canvas Year 5 and 6 students used Chromacryl paints to fill in areas and these were completed and cut in by the artist in residence.
The completed mural is now featured in the school hall where the school community often meets together. The images depict and embrace the values at the school that are so important to us in our lives.

Jane Byrne: Artist in Residence
Julie McCarthy: Visual Art teacher
Laburnum Primary School


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