Another fantastic year in the Creative and Performing Arts faculty. A big congratulations to Jack W. for HSC Excellence in 2023. Jack‘s work was selected for the First Class Exhibition at Lake Macquarie Gallery. First Class showcases the exceptional standard of work produced by HSC Visual Arts students form the Hunter and Central Coast regions.
Image: First class Exhibition - Jack W.
Our yearly trip to see Artexpress at the Art Gallery of NSW was a great day out for our art students and provided them with great insight into the selection process for the exhibition. Students were also able to complete a range of workshops that will assist them back at school with their artmaking.
Newbald Portraits
It has been another successful year for The Newbald Portrait Prize. 18 finalists were selected from Years 7 to 12 showcasing their artistic talents with portraits of their teachers. Use the following link to see all the works and vote for your favourite in the People’s Choice Prize. https://forms.gle/KZB7wDFeb7zMrSP27
Year 12 Visual Arts students have completed their major works with great success. Works included beautifully detailed realism paintings, experimental video artworks and contemporary sculptures, and we wish these students all the best in their HSC exams. Student work will be on exhibition at the Creative Incubator Gallery on Friday 15 November. Everyone is welcome.
Image: Sample of Y12 Major Works
Image: Sample of Y12 Major Works
Image: Sample of Y12 Major Works
Year 9/10 Photography students have been learning about traditional darkroom techniques this semester, using analog film cameras to take, develop and print their photographs. They have also been developing their skills in Adobe Photoshop, creating digital portrait paintings.
Image: Stylised Portrait Image
Image: Stylised Portrait Image
Image: Stylised Portrait Image
Year 9/10 Visual Art students have been building on their knowledge of portraiture and the Archibald Prize as they investigate the works and practice of artists such as Del Katheryn Barton and Frida Kahlo. They have explored the work of contemporary Aboriginal artists such as Lin Onus and Kayleen Whiskey and used this knowledge to create a contemporary landscape.
Year 7 Visual Art students have investigated a range of art making activities including printmaking, ceramics, painting and portraiture. They have been investigating the ways artists use the world as a source for their ideas to make and interpret art. Students have been exploring symbolism, portraiture and sustainability through various topics.
Year 8 Visual Art students have explored Surrealism and the subconscious mind as well as Australian graphic artists, investigating a range of different artists and their practices to build on their knowledge and inform their own artistic practice.
Music Report
This semester Stage 4 students have been developing composition skills using a range of technology including notation software and online sequencing programs. They have also been selecting repertoire for a performance task and developing solo or ensemble technique on ukulele, guitar and keyboard.
Many students from this stage also attended “Starstruck” in Semester 1 and were inspired by wonderful performances from students in Hunter Region Secondary Schools.
Year 9 students have been working toward their Viva Voce musicology tasks. Students will present their analysis of a popular song to the class in groups. They have also been learning about the history of Popular music in the 60's and 70's with a focus on the music of 'Motown'.
Preliminary Music students have completed their trial Performances and Listening exam and are looking forward to starting their HSC.
HSC students had a very busy term 3 preparing for their practical examinations. Liam, Leo, Harry and Tenzin performed a touching rendition of ‘Wish You Were Here’ at the Isaac Lourie Cup. The annual Senior Showcase night was held onsite this year and all students presented their programs for friends and family. Finally, outstanding performances from Tenzin and Harry were featured in the Year 12 Graduation Ceremony.
Concert Band
A group of dedicated students have been developing their reading and ensemble skills at band rehearsal each Tuesday morning and are looking forward to more players joining next year! This group was featured at the Year 12 Graduation Ceremony where they performed ‘High Hopes’ and the National Anthem.
Drama Report
Yr 7 Passion Project - Lights, Camera, Action!
This enthusiastic bunch of students have learned all about the art of film-making with no budget or advanced technology. Students explored camera angles, shots, editing techniques, storyboarding, log-lining, shot sequencing, and props/location preparation. Then, with their new knowledge, they broke into groups and made a short film using just an iPad. The results were quite impressive.
Year 8 Drama
This semester-based elective has allowed many creative students to really come out of their shell. Whether entirely self-devised in groups or developed for stage from scripted sources, the performance skills exhibited by both cohorts have left their fellow classmates in either stitches or tears.
Year 9/10 Drama
Stage 5 Drama has had an eventful year, developing the sophistication of their skills in creating, performing and appreciating Drama. Term 1 saw students devise intriguing performances using Basel Mask as a foundation, Term 2 welcomed the calamitous chaos of Melodrama, while Term 3 challenged students to devise a piece with a message, moral, or social issue at its core. This class also had the honour of being the predominant audience members for the HSC cohort’s performance tasks. This experience expanded students’ horizons to see the possibilities of where Senior Drama could take them.
Year 12 Drama
This group has shown dedication, commitment and resilience in the face of the immense challenges they have faced in their HSC year. Students have participated in state-wide HSC Drama workshop days, live performances of studied texts in Sydney, as well as multiple school holiday HSC excellence workshops to develop and refine both their Group and Individual performances. In further preparation for their HSC performance examinations, all students performed at the annual HSC Drama Showcase evening, held at Catapult Dance Studio on Hunter Street. The night was an immense success and gave students vital live audience performance experience ahead of their formal examinations. With the performance examinations now complete, and the written examination a matter of days away, I would like to congratulate all class members for their dedication and thank them for the honour of guiding them through the last 2 years of Senior Drama.
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