Big Journal - Big Draw: Murray Bridge North Schools

‘Open your eyes and see’

In 2010, Carclew built on its inaugural Big Draw project (Come Out 2009) with an extended artist in residence project at Murray Bridge North Schools, in partnership with Country Arts SA.

Following their successful artistic partnership, during the 2009 Come Out Festival professional artists John Whitney and James Parker worked with 120 Yr 4 -5  students to explore the many techniques and mediums of drawing.

The artistic team, which also included emerging artist Seb Humphreys and Coordinator Ella Pak Poy worked for five intensive week-long periods, in Terms 2 and 3 during which time the students and their teachers learned a diverse range of skills and created many works of art.

The hundreds of artworks, and individual journals created during the residency incorporated various artistic techniques and skills and reflected upon stories from the many cultural groups that make up the school community as well as the local environment.

The project culminated in an impressive exhibition at the newly renovated Murray Bridge Regional Gallery during Country Arts SA’s second Regional Centre of Culture in October 2010.

The Big Draw residency stretched and challenged everyone involved taking them on a journey through drawing. The Carclew team left the school confident that the students and teachers would continue to use drawing as a way to reflect on and interpret the world they live in.

In April 2011, Big Journal - Big Draw was presented with the international Drawing Inspiration Award (Campaign for Drawing, London, U.K.).

‘... the respect the artists showed to each student by displaying their work in the gallery in a first class and professional manner honoured their endeavours. Students walked away from the opening feeling validated as a worthwhile individual.’
Principal, Murray Bridge North Schools

This Creative Education Partnership Artist in Residence Initiative was supported by The Australia Council for the Arts and Arts SA through the Carclew Youth Arts Board.

Drawing in Motion

Carclew Youth Arts is teaming up with Goolwa Primary School to deliver a series of drawing workshops in the first half of 2012. Professional artists, John Whitney and James Parker will build a vibrant and creative learning environment with 90 Year 4 - 5 students and their teachers during the workshops taking place at the South Coast Regional Arts Centre.

Drawing in Motion participants will be mentored by the artistic team to reflect on the ephemeral, ever-changing world they live in, while exploring the local environment. Utilising a diverse range of drawing techniques and mediums, participants will learn about many visual concepts including the ‘endless landscape’ with Goolwa serving as artistic inspiration during the workshops.

In the third week of the project Adelaide artist, David Archer with join the artistic team utilising his unique skills to create a drawing machine inspired by Steam Punk.

Exhibition Dates

Throughout June, the Drawing in Motion exhibition will celebrate the workshop program and its outcomes with the artworks being on display for the entire Goolwa community and visitors.

When Friday 1 to Saturday 30 June

Where South Coast Regional Arts Centre

Opening Event Friday 1 June at 1pm

Tailem Bend Primary School

Animation artists Luku and Danica Wells-Heitmann spent six months at Tailem Bend Primary School facilitating the exploration of a variety of traditional and digital animation styles.

They worked with middle and upper primary students (years 4/5, 5/6 and 6/7) for two days per week. Students focused on making digital projections for the 3-day Murraylands Music Festival held in the main street of the town and the whole school musical, Moby Dick.  Students were able to consider appropriate canvases for projection in the main street (buildings, trees etc.) and then projected their artwork to the local community during the Music Festival.

Tailem Bend Primary School is a regional school 100km South East of Adelaide, with the major industries in the area including pig farming, dairying and grain growing.

This Creative Education Partnership focused on exploring a variety of animation styles, including Japanese manga, monty python style (cut-out animation), clay animation (stop motion) and southpark style (construction paper).

Leading Australian projection artist Craig Walsh took professional development workshops with teachers as part of the residency.