Renowned Queensland public artist David Houghton has helped to nurture budding artists at Matthew Flinders Anglican College Primary School with a new large-scale mural art project at the school.
Thirty-four students from Prep to Year 6 volunteered to be a part of the workshop program facilitated by Mr Houghton, who has been artist-in-residence at Flinders for the duration of Term 3.
Aspects of the students’ artworks have been incorporated into the giant painted wall mural, which measures nine metres in length and took four days for Mr Houghton to complete.
Flinders Head of Primary School Trudi Edwards said the College was thrilled to work with an artist of Houghton’s reputation for the eight-week project duration.
“Our students are benefiting from their interactions with David who is a passionate and experienced public artist with a talent for mentoring young artists,” Ms Edwards said.
“At Flinders, we want to provide our students with diverse opportunities to explore their creativity and to develop their confidence, passion and skills through artistic pursuits.
“This art project has enabled the students to participate in workshops under David’s guidance where they have been challenged to conceptualise and design the art mural, and then create individual artworks which explore the theme of reading and its value to them.”
Ms Edwards added that she and the school community were pleased with the final result. “We love the final mural and are grateful for the colour, vibrancy and creativity it contributes to our College environment.”
The Flinders art project was funded by the ‘Read for Change’ fundraiser in Term 2, initiated by Staff and Student Council who strive to create positive change in the lives of others.
The fundraiser involved Flinders’ students from Prep to Year 6 reading hundreds of books in just seven days to raise over $14,000 in donations.
The majority of the funds went to help support two children that Flinders’ Primary School sponsors through World Vision as well as the school’s local SunnyKids charity and other Sunshine Coast support groups.
The remainder of the funds was invested into the art mural project.
Mr Houghton has produced a diverse range of creative commissions including photo-realistic portraits, scenic underwater, flora and fauna murals, modern contemporary pieces and vibrant street art that can be seen across South-East Queensland.
He has also completed commissions for government and community clients as well as for leading projects such as the Moreton Bay Rail Link Public Art Project as the Principal Contractor, Project Co-ordinator and Lead Artist.
Pictured above from L-R: Flinders Primary students Tom Poulter and Baylin Wylie enjoy an art workshop under the guidance of artist-in-residence David Houghton.