The Tree of Knowledge.
When an established, local artist and a leading teacher united to brainstorm ideas, a wonderful initiative came to fruition.
Talented artist, Mandy Gunn of Tarwin Lower, collaborated with Tanya Chalmers, a Leading Teacher at Leongatha Secondary College. Together they came up with a brilliant project involving pupils from the Leongatha Primary School, Secondary College and South Gippsland Specialist School. Tanya explained, “I feel it’s important for students to connect with local artists.”
Mandy is widely known for her artworks using recycled material and invented a unique form of cardboard constructions. The schools’ outdated library and reference books created the perfect opportunity to construct an assemblage of cardboard and book pages.
Once this idea was approved by Karen Haig, Head of Arts, students (and teachers), from across the three schools took part to perform varying, creative tasks, according to their ages and skills.
Book pages were cut and with glue, collaged onto thick cardboard sheets. These sheets were then precisely cut into 25cm lengths and cross-cut 1cm wide. Upon square grid frameworks, layers of shorter lengths were glued to achieve the 3D effect. Each patterned square was then assembled to create three giant tree structures, to be encased and displayed in perspex boxes.
Mandy visited the school weekly over a duration of approximately five weeks. Under her guidance she observed the lessons of precision and patience unfold as the artwork progressed. “Often the tasks were extremely repetitive,” Mandy states, “However the end result exuded a satisfying sense of achievement.”
Since the obsolete, recycled schoolbooks were the focal point of the project, it was fitting the students’ masterpiece was named ‘The Tree of Knowledge’. A symbolism of growth, resourcefulness, and connectedness.
This artist-in-residence piece was officially unveiled during the week of Leongatha Education Precinct’s Arts and Performance Expo in August of last year. However, only recently has the artwork been encased and displayed in perspex boxes and now hangs proudly in the entrance foyer of the primary and secondary schools.
Each year the Leongatha Education Precinct celebrates pupils’ talents of the arts, music, drama, and dance through a well-curated expo. The public are invited to admire skilful, often heartfelt performances, showcased by passionate students of all ages. Unfortunately, through coved-19 restrictions, the expo was this year improvised.
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