Earlier this year, Leigha had her VCE Studio Arts photography on exhibition at the Museum of Australian Photography (MAPh). The exhibition, TOP SHOTS showcases exceptional photographic work produced by students through either the course of their VCE or the IB program (International Baccalaureate).
With only a dozen students selected for the highly sought after exhibition, historically it has been dominated by student work from metro-based schools. We are proud to see Leigha as not only Emmanuel College’s first student to have their work exhibited, but also the only representation of a student from a regional school.
Initially looking to explore the idea of being and existing through her work, personal challenges she faced during her final year of school led her explore areas of mental health. She used this as a lens to express derealisation and dissociation.
The resulting subject shows a young woman on the rocks by the sea. Leigha explains, “I love nature photography. I love how you can manipulate it, and change it to look however you want it to.”
Reflecting overall on her final year of school, Leigha admits that the folio work was demanding, “but, I enjoyed every second of it.”
She particularly enjoyed how the space gave her a supportive outlet to work, plus the flexibility of creative study. “It was all about what you wanted to do, so I could immerse myself in exactly what I wanted to do.”
While Leigha was the Emmanuel College Dux for Studio Arts, from her experience of this exhibition, she believes that more students from regional schools should submit their work for consideration. She particularly highlighted the work completed by her classmates “I know in my Studio Arts class, there were artworks, that to me, were better than mine. So I feel like taking a stab, and putting yourself out there doesn’t hurt. I wasn’t expecting to get my stuff put in the gallery, but here we are.”
Leigha is planning a trip through Europe towards the end of the year, where she hopes to find further inspiration for her photography.
Once relegated to the status of doodling, the biro pen is gaining recognition thanks to the mastery of artist Liam Barling. Winning 2023’s Warrnibald art prize, Liam’s portrait of fellow alumni Grace Kenny (Class of 2021) captures an amazing depth of textures and attitude with an everyday item of stationery.
Liam comments, “It feels like being outside of the lines when you draw with a biro pen.”
His interest in the medium started early in his life, and continued throughout his time at school. “I remember as a kid, as young as 4, sitting in the car with a biro pen and finding old shopping dockets, and just drawing on the back of them.”
Liam admits that he wasn’t planning to enter the Warrnibald this year, but when he started working on the piece of Grace, he knew he needed to submit it. “I thought that this is such a great story to share with the community.”
Initially meeting 4 years ago through Achieve South-West program, Rock School, their paths have continued to cross. This year they have been working together, through a new Find Your Voice school leavers program, which sees Grace writing and recording a rap album.
“So I’ve got to know Grace pretty well this year, and I just think she is a very impressive woman. She is such a strong and proud advocate for inclusion and diversity, and she’s so well spoken. I thought this would be a really great way for her to share her voice in a different capacity.”
The creative process for the portrait involved Grace from start to finish. “We took some photos before I started drawing, and she chose the one she wanted me to use. She wanted to be seen to be looking like she’s giving you a bit of a telling off. She’s making a statement with her expression - don’t treat me like that.”
Grace also wrote the artist’s statement, and gave the speech on opening night.
“I think people were blown away by her. She’s very impressive.”
Best known at Emmanuel College for her design used on our window decals, Amelia has continued to find opportunities to express herself and her culture through art. Her latest creation features on the playing uniforms – both the football guernseys and netball bibs - of the Port Fairy Football Netball Club.
Excited by the opportunity, Amelia was keen to step outside her usual style and explore the possibilities of what working off a typical canvas and without paint, would allow her to create. The work also forced her to stray from her usual natural colour palette, and into the bold world of the Seagull’s club colours of purple and gold.
“I was really keen to do it as it was something completely different, and I was able to put a story out there.”
Like many of her art pieces, the artwork tells stories of family, community and the Gunditjmara – Maar land. Amelia highlights that the big circle on the front of the jumper and the circles on the bibs connect to show gathering and community.
“A lot of my paintings are based around Port Fairy, so each part of the jumper and bib is too.” Amelia says.
Amelia’s interest in art began to develop in Year 7 with her father, Shane and her grandmother being her strongest mentors.
Today, while completing a bachelor of nursing at Deakin University in Warrnambool, Amelia is also finding time to share her knowledge and artistic talent in local primary schools, by supporting art classes. Teaching children about indigenous symbols and paintings, she’s been pleasantly surprised to see how much young children already know about our local cultures.
“For such little kids, they have so much knowledge already.”
For more of Amelia’s art find ameliabell_art on Instagram.
