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Gazette Article

Artarmon Infants’ creativity inspired by traditional Aboriginal Kameraigal people

This year, Education Week (26 – 30 May) at Artarmon Primary School included a special visit by Aboriginal Project Officer Charlene Davison.
 
During her visit, Charlene recounted how whales were an important image for traditional Aboriginal Kameraigal people.  Her talk was an inspiration for art ideas for Katherine Simms, Kindergarten teacher at Artarmon School and well-known for her group art projects which are dotted around the school campus. 

“As a result of Charlene’s visit, and to bring life and meaning to the stories that she told, I decided to embark on a project to design and produce cut-out whales to display in our school’s Kameraigal room,” Katherine explained.

“The result is a beautiful exhibition of cut out whales bearing Aboriginal designs that are now displayed on the walls.

The whales were created after Bunnings Warehouse manager Mark Newman generously donated wood and paint for the artworks.

In preparation for this project, children in years K-2 studied various Aboriginal artists’ work.  They then interpreted these works so that they could create their own designs.  Year 5 students assisted with the project by cutting out the whale shapes and sanding them ready for painting.

When Charlene visited the school she spoke to the children about Aboriginal history. Charlene also officially opened the Kameraigal room and its decorative whales for the children and visitors to enjoy.

by Katrina Weir

Courtesy of Gazette August 2008