Carey’s Art students participated in the Artist in Residence (AIR) program which allows students to experience the artmaking process under the direction of a practicing artist.
The following are highlights from the Year 9 and Year 7 Art programs.
Exploring architecture and printmaking in Year 9
We were pleased to invite printmaker Nichola Prested to lead this year’s AIR program for Year 9. Nichola brings a process driven, experimental approach shaped by years of creative practice across studio work, costume and textiles, encouraging the exploration and expressive possibilities of mixed media.
This initiative invited students to creatively explore the design and spirit of the new Middle School building, both inside and out. Working alongside Nichola, the students were asked to create an artwork that focussed on the architectural features of the Middle School building.
Students engaged in an experiential learning journey that combined technical skill with artistic expression. Through careful observational drawing, they examined the architecture’s defining elements shape, pattern and line, while reflecting on how these features contribute to the unique character of their building. They were introduced to two printmaking techniques: mono-printing and silk screening. The students developed their own individual monoprint panel which were selected and combined into a larger artwork. The residency emphasised collaboration, encouraging students to share ideas, experiment with materials and interpret the forms of the buildings in innovative ways.
The program culminated in a highly collaborative creation of artworks that will be proudly displayed within the Middle School building. These pieces not only showcase the students’ artistic growth, but also celebrate their connection to the architecture that shapes their daily experiences. The Artist in Residence program continues to enrich Carey’s art curriculum, fostering creativity, teamwork and a deeper appreciation of design in the world around us.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Nichola Prested for her contribution to the program and for guiding students through the creative process and sharing her expertise in printing. Her thoughtful resolution of the final artwork including her own artistic additions and the integration of textile elements brought further cohesion and clarity to the collective piece. The finished result is a richly layered visual response which will hang proudly within the Middle School, and is a testament to student creativity, collaboration and the power of art to connect us to the spaces we inhabit.
Transformative Repair: a Year 7 Art collaboration with ISV and Harvard
This year, our Middle School Year 7 students have been exploring an exciting project called Transformative Repair. The project introduces students to the idea that repairing something is not just fixing it – it can also be a creative act that helps us to value the world around us. In Transformative Repair, students investigate how objects can be renewed or completely reimagined through curious thinking, artistic exploration and sustainable practices. Instead of discarding or throwing away items, students use their creative lens to develop stories and possibilities, giving the completed projects a new life.
Year 7 Transformative Repair workshop
The project explores how the practice of Transformative Repair might support new ways of thinking about damage and repair, as well as inspire care and compassion for oneself and others in one's community. The creative process and practice of creating art from damaged or discarded objects seek to open discussion and a creative response to our care of our local community or, more broadly, our country, climate and environment. The project commenced in 2022 as a collaboration between Independent Schools Victoria (ISV) and Project Zero, an education research project by Harvard University, USA.
The works presented were created by groups of Year 7 Art students working with the Year 7 Artist in Residence, Liz Sontag, and supporting educational research from ISV and Project Zero. The project continues as a core collaborative project for all Year 7 students each year.
Peter Schmidli
Year 9 Art teacher
Simon Carver
Leader of Learning – Art and Design
