Visual Arts

2019 in the Preparatory School artroom was busy, engaging all students in exploring the huge range of media and skill-building processes to create artworks to treasure. The students readily set to work and consolidated previous learning and applied new skills.

The Preparatory School Visual Arts programme in 2019 was further refined and designed to specifically meet the key aim of integrating Te Reo Māori and Tikanga Māori seamlessly into weekly art classes. This integration worked well at all levels, from simple actions such as greeting all students in Te Reo Māori and using the language in a natural manner within everyday situations, to extending the focus on Māori traditional and contemporary art practices as a primary context for learning new skills and techniques. Given the cyclic nature of the established programme, it was possible to build on students’ previous learning and find new ways of applying newly acquired skills and techniques within the context of Te Reo Māori. Advice and encouragement from Te Reo Māori teacher, Marcelle Leo’o, and fellow members of the Te Reo Māori PLG who met three times per term in the Art classroom for language lessons, also added a positive dimension to this year’s initative. It was noticeable that as classroom teachers introduced more Te Reo into their own programmes, the students were more fluent and relaxed in using Te Reo in everyday situations. They were proud to have their language knowledge.

Art units trialled in 2018 were revised and reviewed to meet the needs of students and refine the methods and processes used. Incidental learning can sometimes be generated by real-life experiences, hence the opportunity for some senior classes to explore Islamic art as a means of responding to 15 March in an expression of unity through art.

A large unit of work focusing on Matariki saw a school wide exhibition of artwork, mainly in three dimensions, celebrating this special time of year. Students incorporated harakeke weaving, kite making, kete

making, and Māori traditional patterns and designs into their art.

Junior students were introduced to many different types of media, in order to explore new materials and processes. Keeping their work in a large visual art diary provided a good record of their progress in Visual Arts.

Accessing art outside the classroom has become a feature of the Senior Art programme. In both semesters, Years 7–8 Art classes engaged with art within our city centre, looking at the way art is encountered on the street and comparing that experience with art displayed in galleries. Meetings with artist and gallery owners enhanced the students’ learning and gave them the opportunity to discuss art making with people from a variety of backgrounds and approaches to visual expression. This year the students encounted the street art of Ruby Jones, the young artist whose work so poignantly captured the spirit of our city after 15 March.

Once more, students engaged enthusiastically with clay and the pottery process. All students were able to produce pottery through every stage of the process including glazing and firing. It was beneficial to take time over these pieces, to understand the firing process, and use glazes effectively.

Students’ artworks continued to dominate the interior environment of the Preparatory School. All students have contributed artworks to these displays in many media. Ongoing projects like the memorial poppies by Year 5 were maintained. Popular activities such as building with the architectural LEGO saw further development in the students’ understanding of how to evolve an idea visually and take new directions.

The excellent resourcing of the Art programme ensured that all students worked with high quality equipment and materials.