education and community projects
There are few things more satisfying that working with others on a collaborative project.
Here are some of the projects I have facilitated.
There are few things more satisfying that working with others on a collaborative project.
Here are some of the projects I have facilitated.
bidwill community jersey design project
In 2023 I was invited to facilitate a design project with school aged kids in the Bidwill community. The task was to create designs for two football teams drawing on culture and interests of the kids in the area. In addition to developing the designs for the two teams, we would come up with two team names and a logo for branding the teams. We met weekly after school during Term 4. The area has a diverse cultural background and many of the participants were from islander and aboriginal backgrounds which influenced their designs. The age group of participants ranged from primary school to high school. At the conclusion of the workshops we had decided upon the two team names as Bunyas and Toa.
Team Bunyas - was named after the Bunya tree which is indigenous to the local area and has significance with aboriginal culture. A stylised tree motif features on the front of the jersey and a 'meeting place' motif developed by one of the participants was used as the foundation for the repeat design located on the sleeves and back yoke of the jersey.
Team Toa - means strength and is influenced by Samoan culture. Imagery such as spear tips feature on the jersey 'v' that extends into the sleeves. Shark teeth, floral motifs and other geometric imagery drawn in the workshops by participants also feature in this jersey design.
On conclusion of the workshops, my role then involved translating the student designs into digital imagery and vector files that could be printed on fabric to be made into team jerseys for a community football match consisting of members from the local fire brigade, police force and teens from the area. Designs were developed on Pixelmator Pro software and incorporated the Funpark kite logo and a sleeve badge with the 'Kickin' it 4 Bidwill' branding which I designed. The jerseys were produced by Team Spirit Sports, an Australian uniform company based in Coffs Harbour, NSW.
In March 2024 the community football match took place and was concluded with a sausage sizzle. It was a great community event and a wonderful project to be involved in, with the added bonus of giving me the opportunity to revisit and expand my digital design skills.
In 2023 I was invited to facilitate a design project with school aged kids in the Bidwill community. The task was to create designs for two football teams drawing on culture and interests of the kids in the area. In addition to developing the designs for the two teams, we would come up with two team names and a logo for branding the teams. We met weekly after school during Term 4. The area has a diverse cultural background and many of the participants were from islander and aboriginal backgrounds which influenced their designs. The age group of participants ranged from primary school to high school. At the conclusion of the workshops we had decided upon the two team names as Bunyas and Toa.
Team Bunyas - was named after the Bunya tree which is indigenous to the local area and has significance with aboriginal culture. A stylised tree motif features on the front of the jersey and a 'meeting place' motif developed by one of the participants was used as the foundation for the repeat design located on the sleeves and back yoke of the jersey.
Team Toa - means strength and is influenced by Samoan culture. Imagery such as spear tips feature on the jersey 'v' that extends into the sleeves. Shark teeth, floral motifs and other geometric imagery drawn in the workshops by participants also feature in this jersey design.
On conclusion of the workshops, my role then involved translating the student designs into digital imagery and vector files that could be printed on fabric to be made into team jerseys for a community football match consisting of members from the local fire brigade, police force and teens from the area. Designs were developed on Pixelmator Pro software and incorporated the Funpark kite logo and a sleeve badge with the 'Kickin' it 4 Bidwill' branding which I designed. The jerseys were produced by Team Spirit Sports, an Australian uniform company based in Coffs Harbour, NSW.
In March 2024 the community football match took place and was concluded with a sausage sizzle. It was a great community event and a wonderful project to be involved in, with the added bonus of giving me the opportunity to revisit and expand my digital design skills.
installation ARTangle panel - painting in public
In 2023 I was offered the opportunity to paint at Alan Baker Gallery in Camden, NSW as part of the 'Art After Dark' initiative to promote and celebrate local artists and musicians. A number of artists were involved and the panels were later assembled into ARTangle installations in Camden. The panel subject matter I chose for my panel is inspired by my whimsical bird and banksia encaustic paintings and was my first time working at this scale and in acrylic on board. It was a great experience and took place over several evening and daytime sessions on gallery open days. The painting was accompanied by live music from local musicians. A wonderful atmosphere to paint en plein air and chat to locals while you work.
My piece is now installed in the garden outside Camden Civic Centre.
Many thanks to Camden Council for the opportunity, for raising the profile of art in the community, and for supporting local artists. And thanks to all the passers-by who said hello and had a chat about the work.
I've included some images of the painting as it progressed and evolved. The initial bluish grey, was replaced by a coral background that reflects the amazing sunset I experienced the first night when the work was started back in April.
In 2023 I was offered the opportunity to paint at Alan Baker Gallery in Camden, NSW as part of the 'Art After Dark' initiative to promote and celebrate local artists and musicians. A number of artists were involved and the panels were later assembled into ARTangle installations in Camden. The panel subject matter I chose for my panel is inspired by my whimsical bird and banksia encaustic paintings and was my first time working at this scale and in acrylic on board. It was a great experience and took place over several evening and daytime sessions on gallery open days. The painting was accompanied by live music from local musicians. A wonderful atmosphere to paint en plein air and chat to locals while you work.
My piece is now installed in the garden outside Camden Civic Centre.
Many thanks to Camden Council for the opportunity, for raising the profile of art in the community, and for supporting local artists. And thanks to all the passers-by who said hello and had a chat about the work.
I've included some images of the painting as it progressed and evolved. The initial bluish grey, was replaced by a coral background that reflects the amazing sunset I experienced the first night when the work was started back in April.
frida collaborative quilt
In 2018 when I was National President of ATASDA, one of the initiatives I re-implemented, was the travelling suitcase. For this project I followed a frequently used format of dividing a larger artwork image into smaller individual tiles for participants to complete. These tiles would then be constructed into the completed work. I designed and drew up the image of Frida Kahlo, created a template of the completed work, constructed individual kits with instructions and fabric swatches and master patterns for each of the participants and presented this to members at the 2018 Christmas Party. Members then volunteered to complete individual tiles which when combined, formed a portable quilt for display as part of the travelling suitcase.
Detail image shown is of my completed tile contribution.
In 2018 when I was National President of ATASDA, one of the initiatives I re-implemented, was the travelling suitcase. For this project I followed a frequently used format of dividing a larger artwork image into smaller individual tiles for participants to complete. These tiles would then be constructed into the completed work. I designed and drew up the image of Frida Kahlo, created a template of the completed work, constructed individual kits with instructions and fabric swatches and master patterns for each of the participants and presented this to members at the 2018 Christmas Party. Members then volunteered to complete individual tiles which when combined, formed a portable quilt for display as part of the travelling suitcase.
Detail image shown is of my completed tile contribution.
rockdale art festival - guerrilla knitting installation
In 2014 I was invited to facilitate a community art project as part of Rockdale Art Festival. Throughout Rockdale little hidden in plain sight brightly coloured stripy knitted panels were dotted throughout Rockdale lanes and streets. If you were busy you might not initially notice them. But if you were waiting at a bus stop or sitting in a cafe you might be lost in thought or daydreaming for a moment and catch sight of them in unexpected places.
In 2014 I was invited to facilitate a community art project as part of Rockdale Art Festival. Throughout Rockdale little hidden in plain sight brightly coloured stripy knitted panels were dotted throughout Rockdale lanes and streets. If you were busy you might not initially notice them. But if you were waiting at a bus stop or sitting in a cafe you might be lost in thought or daydreaming for a moment and catch sight of them in unexpected places.
rockdale council - anzac day installation
In 2014 I was invited to facilitate a community project with Rockdale City Council to create a poppy installation to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of Remembrance Day. Members of the community knitted and crocheted thousands of poppies which were then assembled into a banner (image below) and strung to form decorative garlands and wrapped around the columns of the Rockdale Library building. Part of my role also included teaching knitting and crochet to volunteers who wanted to learn.
In 2014 I was invited to facilitate a community project with Rockdale City Council to create a poppy installation to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of Remembrance Day. Members of the community knitted and crocheted thousands of poppies which were then assembled into a banner (image below) and strung to form decorative garlands and wrapped around the columns of the Rockdale Library building. Part of my role also included teaching knitting and crochet to volunteers who wanted to learn.
saint patrick's college - year 12 mass woven garden installation
In 2013 I was invited by the arts faculty to create a series of plant weavings to decorate the school hall which was transformed into a sacred space for the Year 12 final mass and farewell assembly. Many of these were woven on a backstrap style loom using plants, leaves, branches, foliage and native flowers and seed pods from the school gardens. Others were woven in the fork of a tree branch. A pair of large woven forked branches (each over 3 metres tall) were paraded into the space ahead of the students as they entered the mass.
Pictured in this image is the 5 metre long woven panel behind the alter in the main hall beside the windows and a short wide woven panel suspended on the lectern. There was a total of 5 woven panels and weavings on suspended branches in total.
They were later transported to the school chapel to decorate for the teacher farewell. Some were placed on the alter cloth and others in holy spaces adorned with candles. The photos are grainy but evidence of a really beautiful installation that transported ordinary spaces into sacred spaces of community within the school.
In 2013 I was invited by the arts faculty to create a series of plant weavings to decorate the school hall which was transformed into a sacred space for the Year 12 final mass and farewell assembly. Many of these were woven on a backstrap style loom using plants, leaves, branches, foliage and native flowers and seed pods from the school gardens. Others were woven in the fork of a tree branch. A pair of large woven forked branches (each over 3 metres tall) were paraded into the space ahead of the students as they entered the mass.
Pictured in this image is the 5 metre long woven panel behind the alter in the main hall beside the windows and a short wide woven panel suspended on the lectern. There was a total of 5 woven panels and weavings on suspended branches in total.
They were later transported to the school chapel to decorate for the teacher farewell. Some were placed on the alter cloth and others in holy spaces adorned with candles. The photos are grainy but evidence of a really beautiful installation that transported ordinary spaces into sacred spaces of community within the school.
mawarra public school - mawarra town installation
In 2004 I taught Year 1/2 students how to knit at Mawarra Public Schools. In response to a unit about their environment student learned to knit. Knitting teaches many skills to small hands, hand eye coordination, mathematics, observation, strengthening of small muscles, patience, tenacity, and once mastered is relaxing and meditative. We began with 20 stitches and very soon a square of garter stitch became the foundations for a house or apartment building or even a church. Students learned to change colours, decrease, cast off and cast on. They made little windows and doors to decorate their buildings and stitched them to their houses to complete them.
The works were then arranged to form a streetscape which was exhibited in the school hall. The completed work measuring about 90cm (h) x 3m (w).
In 2004 I taught Year 1/2 students how to knit at Mawarra Public Schools. In response to a unit about their environment student learned to knit. Knitting teaches many skills to small hands, hand eye coordination, mathematics, observation, strengthening of small muscles, patience, tenacity, and once mastered is relaxing and meditative. We began with 20 stitches and very soon a square of garter stitch became the foundations for a house or apartment building or even a church. Students learned to change colours, decrease, cast off and cast on. They made little windows and doors to decorate their buildings and stitched them to their houses to complete them.
The works were then arranged to form a streetscape which was exhibited in the school hall. The completed work measuring about 90cm (h) x 3m (w).