Visual Art

At Churchlands Primary School the Visual Art programme is run by specialist Melinda Cockerill. It plays an important role by promoting creative and critical thinking and practise through a positive, enjoyable, meaningful program, enhancing the quality of learning at our school.

During the time of the Sculpture by the Sea Exhibition at Cottesloe Beach, students were assigned, through Seesaw, a project to take a photo of a sculpture and respond. This offered the opportunity for families and students to interact, observe, admire, and wonder at the many sculptures displayed at the exhibition or found in our local environments. During class the students shared their responses and built a variety of different sculptures with a focus on an artist or sculpture. During art class the students created sculptures after looking at techniques and designs used by professional artists. Due to Covid restrictions we could not hold our annual Sculpture by the School art show. Classroom sculptures will be on display during our Learning Journey later in the year.

In 2021 the Environmental Team and the Sustainability committee created a frog habitat in the school grounds. The year two to five students followed the Design process to create tiles that were installed behind the frog bog. Different classes focused on different flora and fauna found in the local Herdsman Lake habitat. Together these tiles are a patchwork of colour and life. The investigation looked at Noongar, and our own connection, with this unique environment by sharing Noongar and scientific names for many of the species found.

Generously the P and C supported this project by providing Noongar Artist Summer Brinkworth and her brother Lucas Bennell, from Myrtle Creations, to share their connection to the Noongar six seasons, that represent the climate of the south west of WA. Under their guidance the children assisted in the painting of the six poles, with each pole representing a recognised season. This contemporary collective of colour, symbolic meaning and connection to country has been installed as part of the new Adventure play space.

The art team and year six students paint the set for the year six musical and constructed props that ensured the show was an amazing success.

During our Book Week, the teachers and students are inspired by the illustrators from the short-listed books. Working with the English committee we use this week to promote storytelling, illustration and the love of literature, art, and imagination.  

On the evening of the annual school Learning Journey, the art room is awash with colour, texture, excitement, and people, as parents with their precious artists come to share fabulous creativity and flair. It was overwhelming the response from the school community. It makes my heart sing.

The celebration of the Arts at Churchlands Primary School provides a student voice, mutual understanding, and sense of togetherness.