The Victorian Curriculum requires that children are given opportunities to ‘explore experiences, ideas and feelings through making visual artworks in different art forms and styles’. Students at Carey Baptist Grammar have enthusiastically engaged with The Young Archie Awards this year – an annual, national portrait painting competition.
Artistic endeavour is a powerful way of making meaningful connections to self and others. As children engage in their artwork, they are not just fulfilling the artistic elements required, they are providing their audience with a colourful and imaginative interpretation of an event, insight or relationship that is personally significant.
The Young Archie Awards is an annual national portrait painting competition for young artists between the ages of five and 18, held in conjunction with the Archibald Prize. Carey Baptist Grammar students across all year levels at Junior School Donvale enthusiastically engaged with this project, painting an array of portraits that explored a significant relationship or engaged in meaningful self-reflection. In portraiture artworks, there are subjective or objective stories that link to self or others through personality, emotions, interests, land, home and family. They were encouraged to see and experience the world through the eyes of others by applying imagination through artistic expression. This is achieved through the use of observation, creative thinking and the application of artistic design elements.
Beyond their independent projects, the students are learning that we are all equal participants and that, through collaboration, great works of art can be achieved. Collaboration through art is a transformational way to bring a community together and embrace a shared goal.
The youngest students in the ELC were challenged to ‘take a line for a walk’ – collaboratively creating meaning through linework. On the other end of the scale, a group of Year 6 students worked closely together to create an artwork that honoured Harmony Week. This whole-school art display is based on the symbolism of the dove and their hope for world peace.
Through these imaginative artworks, the children explored and celebrated the many different attributes of an individual. And together, art opens up the space for us to communicate these truths in varied representational and creative ways.
For more information please visit: https://www.carey.com.au/