Scotch College

Art Classes Celebrate

Art classes celebrate Federation

The Year 7 art classes were taken on excursion to visit the Exhibition Buildings and new Museum of Victoria in March. All classes attended with Messrs Taylor, Mason, Papuga, Lundie and Braddy providing the instruction. In preparation the boys had studied perspective drawing in class, as well as examining the background and history of Victorian architectural design. The excursion was based at the Carlton Gardens because of the special significance of the site this year. The boys discussed the design of the Exhibition Buildings and the first Federal Parliament being held at this location. The boys moved from one vantage point to another, drawing different aspects of the buildings. Fortunately the weather was excellent, which made the day very pleasant and productive.

Gaining Ideas

As has been the case in past years, the Ken Field Memorial Fund played a major role in providing financial support for the Year 12 Studio Arts students to attend a three day student International Design Conference. The AG Ideas Conference was held at the Melbourne Concert Hall on March 28, 29, and 30, with approximately 1,800 secondary and tertiary students attending. The students were able to hear leading designers from Australia and overseas speak about their particular discipline. Twenty-three boys attended the Conference from Scotch, as well as attending an evening careers night, selected from a list of thirty design companies around Melbourne. The boys found the experience inspiring, as it opened their eyes to the real world of the digital design industry.

Art in the frame

On Tuesday May 8, the Year 11 Art and Studio Art Classes, visited a series of stimulating locations. Burnley was the first stop of the day, at the foundry and studio of Mr Louis Laumen, the sculptor who is creating the Birth of AFL sculpture celebrating the first game of football between Melbourne Grammar and Scotch College.

Ms Kieron Jones, Year 11 Co-ordinator, took part in the excursion to the foundry, and along with the boys, was caught up in the magic atmosphere of the artist's workshop. Mr Laumen was on hand to explain the bronze casting process, and showed the lads how he created a clay model, took rubber moulds, then built up the individual wax sections in these. He demonstrated how venting systems alleviate the gas pressure of the hot metal, and what preparations had to be made prior to casting in bronze. It was a fascinating insight into the world of the artist; set against the background roar of the bronze kiln and grind of the ceramic binder machine. The boys will certainly appreciate Mr Laumen's skill, when they finally get to see the finished sculpture later this year, on site at the MCG.

Boroondara Council has initiated a project for 2001 which will be a photography book commemorating the year in District from the perspective of youth. The council has appointed an artist in residence, Mr Matthew Sleeth, who is a professional photographer of international standing.

Mr Sleeth visited the Art Department at Scotch, and showed the boys a series of slides he had taken for Australian, American and European magazines, recording political events in war zones, people in their environments, and interesting towns throughout the third world.

The excursion was an introduction to photography and the class was given a specific set of tasks, centred on recording youth in action. Mr Sleeth caught up with the class at the Camberwell Skate park where the first of a series of black and white shots were taken of people on BMX bikes, roller blades and skateboards. From this location the group moved to Camberwell Junction and worked in pairs recording portraits, reflections and framed images as well as individuals in the particular work environment. All photographs followed the theme of youth's perspective of Boroondara, with the aim of submitting final prints for possible selection in the Council's publication. The boys will learn to develop and print the photographs in the Art Department's darkroom, over the next few weeks.

The final visit for the day was to Stonnington Stables Museum of Art, Deakin University, Malvern. Here they were able to see a very comprehensive and stunning collection of the sculptural work , during the past ten years, of Melbourne artist Mr Geoffrey Bartlett. The Curator of the Art Gallery, Ms Field, talked to the group about the establishment of the gallery and the inaugural exhibition, 'Silver Cloud'. This capped a truly amazing day where the boys were able to directly witness artists working within a community, the way they conceptualise to develop their ideas; and finally view outstanding artistic works, as the tangible expression of their efforts.

Mr Chris Taylor