Carey Grammar

This Exhibition includes work from students in all primary levels and was created with the assistance of Artist in Residence Catherine O'Leary. The idea was to study the elements of Colour, Transparency, Reflections and Light. This was achieved through the use of materials such as perspex, Scratch Lite, Cellophane, fabrics, Tissue Paper, Armature Wire, Acetate Film, Silver Foil and Mirrors.
Each year level worked on the Exhibition through different mediums and the total effect was one of a myriad of colours and surface textures rebounding off Silver Foil and Mirrors. The effect created an intricate fantasy like atmosphere with lights finishing the picture.
Year Prep students worked through Scratch Lite illustrations on perspex and wire sculptures. Developing simple shapes with Armature Wire and then hammering these to transform them into a fixed shape with texture, created the wire sculptures. These hammered shapes were then linked together and fixed onto a coat hanger with beads attached to form a decorative element.
Year One students worked on mobiles made from wire coat hangers pulled into a diamond shape. In the top centre of this shape they placed a square piece of perspex painted with glass paints. The outside of the coat hanger was decorated with metallic threads and other additions including Florist Wire threaded with coloured beads.
Year Two students also used wire coat hangers as an armature for their mobiles. Using two coat hangers crossed over each other. They then covered them in coloured Tissue Paper. From this point the mobile was further decorated by using Armature Wire hammered into intricate shapes and placed within the coat hanger shape. Additional wire shapes were suspended from the base of the hangers and clear plastic strips painted with Posca Pens were also attached and hung from the base.
Year Three students worked with coloured Cellophane and Scratch Lite on perspex panels. These included collages of illustrations on Scratch Lite and collaged pattern work created from coloured Cellophane. These were made into construction panels interconnected with one another and placed either on or over mirror panels.
Year Four students studied the Environment in 2003 and produced their work in natural materials such as wools and silks. They studied the light and shapes produced by tree canopies within the Australian bush and developed their own Bush Canopy. This was developed by using Merino Wool and felting techniques and was suspended over the top of the Exhibition. Other inclusions from Year Four included silk leaves made from Silk Fibres with collage materials of a transparent nature overlaid.
Year Five and Six developed perspex panels and wire sculptures. As both of these year levels were studying the Media, their work in the exhibition was based on this theme. They developed collage work using Tissue Paper, coloured Cellophane and Acetate photocopies and sandwiched the collage between two pieces of perspex. This was framed by using Gaffer Tape with holes drilled for hanging purposes. These works were positioned to catch the light. Other work created by these students were wire sculptures that used two wire coat hangers crossed over one another and pulled into a diamond shape. The basic shape was then covered with a variety of intricate shapes moulded from Armature Wire and hammered into a fixed shape. Each shape was joined together with fine Florist Wire. The sculpture was then decorated with fine beads and the enclosed space within the centre of the shape filled with transparent coloured Cellophane.
The whole Exhibition formed a corridor through which visitors could walk and view the work. There was a canopy formed overhead from which some of the work hung and mirrors were positioned all along the benches at a variety of different angles. This allowed for viewing of the work through Reflections that formed within the mirrors. Additional display features included covering the windows and tree branches with crushed Aluminium Foil and CD's were decorated with reflective materials. All bench tops that formed part of the Exhibition were covered with a Mirror finished card.
All visitors and students have enjoyed our exploration of the use of Reflection and Light, and learned a great deal about the qualities of the materials associated with these elements. We have also played around with the topic of the manipulation of Colour and Textures and the analogy associated with Media manipulation in the work produced by the older students. The effect of angles on shapes and colours and its ability to trick the eye of the viewer was also of great interest. Overall the students gained enormous depth in their understanding of these important elements of Art and Design and enjoyed the journey we took to develop the work.

Jeanette Jennings
Art Coordinator
Carey Baptist Grammar, Donvale