Fleur De Lis Issue 1 2022
The Arts: Connecting art and industry The Arts provide more than a multifocal lens in which we can easily see and be connected to global issues such as climate change, freedom of speech, and equality for all. By engaging with the Arts, we can connect our body, mind, senses, and spirit. It is through engagement, the global environment can be felt, in turn, inspiring thinking, agency and action. Many have been moved by artistic expression, whether through poetry, music, a play, painting, sculpture, dance or architecture. When we connect with an experience, we feel it emotionally and physically, transported to a place that’s strongly grounded in our own being. Such an experience is how art ongoingly seeks and inspires people to transform thinking into doing. Engaging with the Arts brings people together; sharing experiences, despite the many possible ways people may view the world. With this in mind, there are many different stand-points between the Arts and industry and by connecting them, new ideas can be sought, contemporary issues tackled, and entrepreneurship born. At Mercedes College, we connect our Arts programme with different aspects of the industry. This year, some of our planned experiences are: • Further investment in state-of-the-art 3D printing, laser cutting and engraving technologies for design and visual art learning and engagement. • The Art Gallery of South Australia’s Outreach Workshop, bringing our Year 10 Visual Arts students together with experienced artists across a range of different media. • The Year 10 Sound Production class providing students the opportunity to meet music industry leaders in production, recording, media, and marketing. • For the first time we have a Year 10 Dance class equipping students with transferable skills including critical and creative thinking skills, personal and social skills, and intercultural understanding.
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Dance develops reflective thinkers who can pose and solve problems, work independently and collaboratively with a foresight to strengthen their understanding of society, the world, and the role we play within it. Our dance teacher Natalie Goodair is engaged with industry professionals including directors, choreographers, and musical directors enabling students invaluable extension opportunities for those wishing to pursue a career in the Performing Arts. • Ruby Chew, a professional visual artist, will lead a self-portraiture workshop with our Year 12 Visual Art SACE and our Year 11 and 12 International Baccalaureate Diploma Visual Arts students this year. • Our SACE Visual Art Year 11 and 12 students will visit Light Square Gallery to see inspiring artistic works by selected individual student artists at the SACE Art and Design Exhibition. • Raffael Raschella (Year 12) has released his own original music on Triplej Unearthed, making connections with radio and the music industry, with more Indie-Rock/ Indie-Pop music to come. Congratulations Raffael! • Kaitlyn Greatrex (Graduate 2021) will visit Los Angeles for a Summer Intensive Music Programme working with music industry leaders who have worked with Ariana Grande, Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez, Beyoncé, and Rhianna. We wish Kaitlyn Greatrex every success. It is these experiences which impact upon agency and action with our student learners; engaging with the world, to one day contribute to positively changing it. Bringing people together to experience, share, and discuss art in its many facets, develops understandings of community, and reinforces the concept that individual participation in our world can have actual consequence for the betterment of society. Dr Loretta Bowshall-Freeman Learning Area Leader Arts R-12
