2 minute read
Artist in Residence 2021 - Rosina Possingham
In Term 2, we had the opportunity to engage and collaborate with Adelaide-based artist, Rosina Possingham as part of our Annual Artist in Residence Program. Originally from Auburn in the Clare Valley, Rosina completed her Masters in Visual Art in Design at the University of South Australia in 2016. An emerging multi-disciplinary artist, designer and photographer, her motivated and collaborative approach aims to encourage others to observe, challenge and rediscover their relationship with the natural world. A focus of Rosina’s residency was involving students in different forms of participation and using digital strategies that focus on image making, drawing and visual, and abstract mapping to create works of art. In the Junior School Art Room, students from Year 1 to 6 created a vibrant, colourful abstract map of our school. The classroom quickly transformed into a dynamic learning environment, where students were given the opportunity to experience the processes, strategies and skills involved in working in an artistic team. The School map was used as a base for this large artwork. Students block painted colours to depict the aerial view of our school’s buildings. Younger students experienced the close observation skills involved in drawing from plant life from the School gardens using ink, paint-based textas, and crayons. These drawings were then projected onto the large map, with additional students involved in mixing and using colour to cohesively camouflage their plant imagery within the map. We plan to display the final result on the School grounds as a celebration of our vibrant, friendly, diverse and flourishing community. In the Middle School, art students explored mapping through digital processes. Using the Adobe Fresco Program and Apple iPads and pencils, students recreated an aerial view of the School taken from drone images and google maps. With Rosina’s guidance, this artwork was enhanced and completed by some enthusiastic members of staff. The Year 3 students also created cyanotypes using fresh cuttings from the School gardens and photographic imagery captured by Rosina. These photographs of pressed flowers and handwriting were taken from the notebooks of one of our founding sisters, Miss Mamie Brown. This work visually captures our school from past to present through its plant life. Our Year 10’s knowledge of using the female form in art was built upon over Rosina’s residency. She discussed and answered questions about her photographic series titled ‘Night Euphoric’ and ‘Synergy’. This helped guide the student’s ceramic work using the female form this term. By showcasing her study and career journey to Year 11 and 12 students, Rosina also imparted the importance of actively seeking involvement in the arts community by undertaking commissioned work and involvement in group and solo exhibitions.
Advertisement
Our annual Artist in Residence Program has been a part of the School’s Visual Art curriculum since 1989, providing students with an insight into the contemporary practice of an artist.
Rosina Possingham’s dynamic, collaborative and productive approach to art making is engaging and successful in creating strong visual artworks with interesting concepts. Rosina’s community-based approach to developing ideas and bringing them to fruition has broadened students’ understanding of the opportunities to work as contemporary artists.
Brooke Porter Head of Art
