Students create community art project

GAMBIER Vets owner Rebel Skirving was so impressed with the murals she had enjoyed on the Tenison Woods College grounds that she approached the school about lending their skills to Gambier Vets new site.

The request dovetailed perfectly into the Year 9 Visual Arts subject, Project Mural, which has been running for several years and Teacher/Arts Learning Area Coordinator Meghan Amoroso was happy to connect her students with Dr Skirving to create the new mural.

“Students have worked for 14 weeks from initial planning through to the completion of the artwork,” Ms Amoroso said. “At the start of the project, students met with Dr Rebel Skirving to interview her and develop insights into the veterinary clinic, their clients, the work they undertake and their wishes for the mural.”

With the groundwork done it was time to undertake research and analysis of existing murals, developing mood boards for inspiration and undertaking initial sketches.

“The individual drawings were then combined to create a cohesive design, which our students reviewed and critiqued, asking Gambier Vets for their opinions also,” Ms Amoroso said. “Once the green light go ahead was given, their drawings were transferred onto large panels and students worked collaboratively across all panels to complete the painting and refinement of the mural artworks.

“Some of our wonderful grounds team at the college then worked hard to install the mural panels onto the retaining walls of the Gambier Vets site.”

It took a class of 21 students to complete this project, giving them the opportunity to develop their interpersonal skills through interviewing and collaborative work, creative thinking through their idea development and, initiative and problem-solving skills during the painting stages.

“They have been able to experience Visual Arts as a potential career pathway, seeing how artists work in the local community to share their ideas and talents,” Ms Amoroso said. “Additionally, Gambier Vets has been generous in providing our students with insights into the running of the veterinary clinic and good work they undertake.

“We are all so proud of the work that our students have completed and they are so pleased to see the fruits of their learning and give back to our local community.” And Gambier Vets could not be happier with the final result.

“I thought a mural would look great as a way of making the concrete wall look better and the feedback has been very positive and team members and clients love the bright and vibrant images,” Dr Skirving said.