STUDENTS at St Pius X Primary School, Salisbury, used their artistic skills to show what they love about Brisbane as part of the G20 Cultural Celebrations Children’s Art Project.
The Year 5 students were among 21 schools invited to create artworks inspired by the themes of the G20, including the connection between nations and importance of Queensland hosting the summit.
The resulting masterpieces are being displayed prominently on large digital screens at shopping centres throughout the city.
Artist-in-residence Sean Maxwell spent two days with the St Pius X students, helping tease out their ideas.
As the leaders and their entourages arrived in Brisbane to think big about the future, the students also “put on their thinking caps” and created a 3-D artwork to capture different aspects of Australia on a smaller scale.
Principal Allison Malouf said the result was a colourful collection of “caps” depicting the beauty and diverseness of Australia with rainforests, flora and fauna all gracing the artwork.
She said footprints connected the vast landscape as a way of connecting all Australians.
“The students loved being involved in the project and found it challenging and rewarding to create a piece of artwork with a single unifying theme,” she said.
“They all agreed it was a great experience and wonderful fun to work with a real artist.
“Many different materials were used for the creation of the work and lots of co-operative learning took place.”
Mr Maxwell said it was fantastic to be involved in such a project and the high level of engagement, enthusiasm and energy from the students and their teachers ensured that a great outcome was achieved.
He said the students kept to the integrity of the themes – “locality, creation, environment and history” utilising author Dr Edward de Bono’s “thinking hats”.
“Hopefully, they will have learnt a little more about the thinking process and what it is like working together, to achieve an effective end result in preparation for the photographer and recognising some big words used in the art world as well,” Mr Maxwell said.
A number of the Year 5 students, their teacher Madonna Fogarty and Ms Malouf attended the official launch of the G20 Children’s Art Project at the Substation Art Gallery in Paddington.
Their artwork will be returned to the school after a number of weeks.
