Connecting Heart and Art in the Pilbara
Students from Punmu and Kunawarritji communities explored visual arts and movement during an exciting artist in residence program!
Earlier this year AWESOME artists Fiona Gavino and Rachel Arianne Ogle travelled to RAWA Community School campuses at Punmu and Kunawarritji communities on the lands of the Warnman and Manjilyjarra People. They worked with the students for one week in each community and explored various art forms including drawing and block printing, movement and environmental art.
The participants in both communities discussed the Creative Challenge 2024 theme ‘Heart’. They responded by thinking how heart can be showing kindness and working from your heart, which resonated with them as they worked collaboratively on large scale art pieces. They experimented visual art techniques and mediums, like charcoal, pencils and ink on their canvases. The young artists trialled with using leaves and natural objects, as well as tracing around themselves and the artists. The participants connected tracing body parts to movement, dance and improvisation games, utilising their creativity and bodies in a different and dynamic way. This allowed students to connect with numerous ways to express their individuality, skills and talents in artistic forms.
At each community there was a celebration held at the end of the week to shine a light on the participants creations and hard work. Kunawarritiji and Punmu displayed the large art installations, students, school staff and local artists from the community attended to celebrate the works. The artists prepared colourful, creative platter of healthy snacks for all to enjoy.
Creative Challenge is AWESOME Arts’ core education program that embeds contemporary teaching artists in schools across the state. The residency program aims to build pride in community and explore self-expression through project management and creative learning skills.
This residency was proudly supported by Healthway and the Go for 2&5 message.
The participants in both communities discussed the Creative Challenge 2024 theme ‘Heart’. They responded by thinking how heart can be showing kindness and working from your heart, which resonated with them as they worked collaboratively on large scale art pieces. They experimented visual art techniques and mediums, like charcoal, pencils and ink on their canvases. The young artists trialled with using leaves and natural objects, as well as tracing around themselves and the artists. The participants connected tracing body parts to movement, dance and improvisation games, utilising their creativity and bodies in a different and dynamic way. This allowed students to connect with numerous ways to express their individuality, skills and talents in artistic forms.
At each community there was a celebration held at the end of the week to shine a light on the participants creations and hard work. Kunawarritiji and Punmu displayed the large art installations, students, school staff and local artists from the community attended to celebrate the works. The artists prepared colourful, creative platter of healthy snacks for all to enjoy.
Creative Challenge is AWESOME Arts’ core education program that embeds contemporary teaching artists in schools across the state. The residency program aims to build pride in community and explore self-expression through project management and creative learning skills.
This residency was proudly supported by Healthway and the Go for 2&5 message.