Art students learn from one of New Zealand’s best In the last week of Term 1, Year 10 and 12 Painting classes were given the opportunity to work with one of New Zealand’s top artists, Ms Sam Mitchell. The 2010 Wallace Award winner helped students create an acrylic painting in her signature style, working directly onto perspex. She brought in one of her works for students to use as an example (right, top left). Ms Mitchell was at MAGS for three days conducting workshops for six classes, rising to the challenge of working with some quite large classes. She said she really enjoyed her time here and commented on the enthusiasm of the students. Year 10 student Natalie Schoonbee said working with Ms Mitchell introduced her to a different way of painting. “She opened up our eyes to the various styles and inspirations we can use in our own work.” Year 12 student Eleanor Fletcher said: “Experimenting with texture and depth was a challenge; it has been such a great experience.” The MAGS Foundation made Ms Mitchell’s visit possible with its inaugural Artist in Residence Grant, funded by proceeds from the annual MAGS Fine Art Show. The students’ works will be available to view at this year’s Art Show in August. Ms Mitchell will return later in the year to demonstrate ceramic painting, and will assist us to make fuller use of the school kiln.
Junior Art Year 9 and 10 Art classes have been busy with two exhibitions in the Small Gallery in E Block to start the year. In Term 1 they showed a collection of drawings, curated by Year 10 students Ella McCool-Reay and William Kung (right). Early in Term 2 the Art Club, led by Ms Andre Sampson, installed an impressive cardboard city. Year 9 and 10 students worked individually and in groups through Term 1 to construct buildings out of cardboard boxes, then as a team installed their work in the gallery. This show was invited to be part of the ‘Future Cities’ exhibition at the Malcolm Smith Galley, Uxbridge Centre in Howick in June. The Malcolm Smith Gallery is curated by Albertian Mr Balamohan Shingade. 20
Mount Albert Grammar School