2023 Graduate Visual Arts Exhibition
Despite the inclement Melbourne weather and the start of footy finals, we were thrilled to see so many friends, family and staff coming out to support our students at the opening of the 2023 Glen Waverley Graduate Visual Art Exhibition.
Guests viewed over 200 pieces of work from Year 12 students studying the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IB DP) Visual Arts, VCE Creative Arts and VCE Visual Communication Design.
One of the largest pieces in the exhibition (measuring 150cm wide) is Lilly's Pound Bend, a hand-woven abstract contemporary fibre work that took over a year to produce. It depicts a section of the Yarra River near Warrandyte that Lilly has visited many times with family, particularly during the COVID pandemic lockdowns. Lilly spent 20 minutes weaving every day, a meditative process that enabled her to slow down during her busy final year of school and enjoy the creative process more fully.
Creativity, or synthesis, is ranked at the top of all the cognitive domains. It is one of the most difficult skills to master because a person has to use all of the other cognitive skills in the creative process. Creating is the highest order of thinking, requiring study and discipline to make connections, find hidden patterns and generate ideas in order to find solutions to problems and/or to create something new. That’s why it’s so important to have creativity at the forefront of all learning environments. Listening alone does not demonstrate student learning. It’s when students create what they imagine that they’re in the driver’s seat.
There was truly so much creativity on show at the Graduate Visual Art Exhibition. As we farewell our Year 12 students, I wish them all the best for whatever path they next take.
Michele Maher, Head of Visual Arts, Glen Waverley
