A celebration of young creatives: Reflecting on the Transit Lounge 2024 VCE Art Exhibition

KEVIN JESS, HEAD OF DESIGN & CREATIVE ARTS

The Geelong College recently celebrated our students’ artistic talents with the Transit Lounge 2024 Exhibition, a showcase of work by our Year 12 Design & Creative Arts students.

Held in the Keith Humble Centre for Music and Performing Arts, the Transit Lounge 2024 VCE Art Exhibition welcomed over 200 guests who came to celebrate the students’ dedication, innovation, and unique expressions.

I opened the evening with an acknowledgment of the Wadawurrung people, their deep-rooted creative knowledge, and their contributions to our shared landscape of art and design. Geelong’s designation as a UNESCO City of Design is a reflection of this rich heritage.

The ‘Transit Lounge’ theme for this exhibition is particularly fitting. It represents a pause in the journey –a gathering place for these young creatives as they step forward from past accomplishments and prepare to embrace future endeavours.

The diversity of their work, from textiles inspired by iconic artists to meticulously hand-crafted instruments and furniture, was truly impressive.

This year, we saw some standout pieces, including Josh Wilkinson’s intricately crafted bass guitar and Arabella McColl’s beautifully handpainted silk garment.

Each piece showcased months of committed research, experimentation, and hands-on creation.

It was a true pleasure to introduce our guest speaker, Kameiko Gray, who formally opened this year’s exhibition.

A Geelong College graduate of 2012, Kameiko has since earned her Bachelor of Fashion Design and Master of Design, specialising in print and textile design. Now, as the Head Designer at Foxwood Clothing for Stage Two, she brings an incredible depth of expertise and inspiration to our students. We were thrilled to have her back to share her journey and insights with us – thank you, Kameiko, for helping make this evening so special.

We also had the honour of presenting several awards to our students for their exceptional efforts.

Lexie Blockey received the Peter Oulton Rosson Award, an acknowledgment of her extraordinary commitment and passion.

The Principal’s Art Prize was awarded jointly to Arabella McColl and Josh Wilkinson, honouring their dedication to craftsmanship and innovative approaches to design.

In the days following the exhibition’s opening, we welcomed visitors from across our community, including a special visit from the Early Learning 4 “Nature Rangers.”

These young explorers embarked on a “scavenger hunt” through the exhibition, sparking their curiosity and offering them a glimpse of what awaits them when they reach Senior School. Watching these future creatives engage with the art and design on display reminded us all of the excitement and wonder inherent in learning and creating.

Our Morrison Society and Foundation members also enjoyed a curated tour through the exhibit, gaining insight into the thought processes and dedication behind each project.

Highlights included Molly Pring’s deeply personal mixed-media work exploring stages of grief and Mason Mahoney’s innovative mussel declumper and grader prototype – an impressive response to real-world challenges.

Projects like Jessamy Bennett’s Schiaparelli-inspired dress and Zephyr Seignior’s ‘workout cutlery’ showcased the vast range of skills and creative problem-solving abilities our students developed.

Transit Lounge 2024 exemplifies the possibilities unlocked when students bring their unique visions to life, blending traditional and contemporary techniques to push creative boundaries.

As I shared in my closing words at the opening night event – this exhibition is not just about the final products but about the incredible journeys that each student undertook.

To the family, friends, and community members who attended, thank you for your unwavering support and encouragement.

I am also immensely grateful to the Design and Creative Arts staff, technicians, and our guest curator for their hard work, which made this exhibition possible.

And to our Year 12 students, a final message:

“Be proud of your work, celebrate these achievements, and stay connected. The next part of your journey awaits.