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St Paul’s Grammar School Penrith
The Arts quarter
DEDICATING A SPACE FOR THE WORK OF OUR HANDS
The finale of From Little Things... with Voice Mail choir; dance and drama performers; and (right) the music group Sirocco
DIRECTOR OF VISUAL AND Performing Arts Dr Michael Webb guides us through the opening and dedication of the new performing arts space at St Paul’s on Saturday 18 March 2006:
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The Arts Quarter is a dedicated teaching, learning, performing and exhibition space that had been developed, designed then built over the first five years of the new millennium.
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The Visual and Performing Arts Department planned a weekend arts festival to coincide with the school’s 2006 Open Day and large numbers of visitors, former and current students and parents toured the building and its grounds, some stopping for the performances in the foyer/gallery, on the outdoor stage or in several of the dedicated teaching and performing spaces. In keeping with the departmental vision of fostering a community where creative and cultural diversity is cherished, Friday evening included a concert of contemporary Australian jazz by Gary Daley and musicians, featuring gospel singer Evelyn Duprai and the Voice Mail choir in a performance of Gary’s piece, ‘Psalm’. A new CD recording
of ‘Psalm’ was being launched to coincide with the opening of The Arts Quarter. On Saturday a classical piano recital by our brilliant performer/teacher Jennifer Hammond OAM, and a young performers’ recital in the gallery space were highlights, while rock bands (of current and former students) and jazz bands played on the outdoor stage. Choir and folk group concerts and Aboriginal art and dance workshops were also held throughout the morning and afternoon. Special guest performers were the multicultural music group Sirocco, Aboriginal artist and musician David Hudson, and Aboriginal dancer Phil Gaia who performed a short, exciting work called ‘The Hunter’ before official guests in the evening. The festival’s highlight was three performances of a new theatrical work for our students and guest musicians devised and scripted by Drama teacher Josie Jones especially for the occasion, which told the story of The Arts Quarter and placed it in its broader communal, social, historical and cultural context. The piece, From Little Things. . . included acting, choral singing, live and filmed dance segments, and video
footage of past artistic accomplishments. The extended weekend of rehearsals and performances culminated in an official ceremony with a welcome by St Paul’s Principal Mr John Collier, and brief speeches by Mr Don Harwin and Mr Kim Hellyer from the school council, Mr Peter Anderson, Mr Kerry Bartlett MP, and me. Cathy Jarman led all those present in ‘The Prayer for the Work of our Hands’: Lord God, uncreated Creator, unimagined Imaginer, inexhaustible Originator, We recognise that you are a symbolising God and it is from you that we receive our own capacity and desire to symbolise. Made in your image we recognise that we and all people are artists in some way or another. In this building, in these rooms and spaces, through your grace guide our learning, our doing, our imagining, thinking and feeling. Teach us to see and hear that your symbols are real and lead us in the way eternal. These things we ask in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen