Visual Arts
Tell a story.
Honour craft.
Be illogical.
Embrace paradox.
Entice excitement.
Be delightful.
Craft your content.
Care intensely.
Frank Chimero (designer)
2011 has proven to be a challenging, creative and productive year for Lynfield College Visual Arts teachers and students alike. They have worked together to continue to implement the new curriculum, and those involved in Year 11 painting, digital media and craft in particular undertook new coursework assessed by the newly aligned Level 1 standards.
This year in Year 9 Visual Arts over 250 students enjoyed making paintings of our local coastal landscape; they learnt about design elements (line, shape, colour, tone, texture, pattern), compositional devices, style, and techniques used by three renowned New Zealand painters: Kura te Rewiri, Don Binney and Matt Summers. Students interpreted the art ideas and methods used by these artists into their own paintings which, when completed were joined together as a panorama.
 |
Year 10 Craft students made a series of paper-based artworks including a Papua New Guinean style mask, a paper mache model of an endangered animal with tapa detailing on the surface, and a screen print of a collection of natural objects.
 |
 |
Students in Year 10 Visual Arts practised observational drawing from still life objects and the landscape, and combined these images with those from their imagination to make surrealist paintings of My Fantastical Journey.
 |
 |
||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
We live in a world saturated with screens, images and objects,
all demanding that we look at them.
Our lives and our work are mediated by screens,
demanding skills of visual interpretation and negotiation.
 |
 |
 |
 |
Special Education students have had a busy programme of work that began with self portraits using acrylic paint. A series of landscape paintings were produced in Term 2. A series of exercises to understand composition and design techniques was the focus in the middle of the year. The students then created relief paper mache birds. These were decorated with applique feathers and other found objects.
In Terms 1 and 2 Foundation students coursework included visual arts and geography as a cross curricular examination of the physical geography of NZ. Language based activities were supported by the construction of a three dimensional landscape tile made from paper mache. Later in the year they undertook a cross curricular study of Maori legends and Renaissance painting traditions. The outcome was a pencil composition of a multicultural monster set in a landscape based on Da Vinci’s Annunciation painting. Students also worked with lino printing using references of abstract cut paper shapes, the landscape tradition, and Polynesian tapa designs.
The Adult visual arts students began by studying European water colour techniques and painted a landscape. They also made an etching based on observational drawings of shells. Most students had not experienced this media before and they enjoyed acquiring new skills.
The Visual Arts Club, led by Jen Xu, Kerry Miao and Joy Fu, was formed in Term 2 by a group of mainly Year 13 students who whose goal it was to make art works to beautify our school. Their first project was to paint a new mural for the F Block stairwell and give the English area a new, fresh look.
Regan Hay’s mixed media image Homer focuses on his mortality was accepted into The Trusts Secondary School Art Scholarship Exhibition which was held at Lopdell House, Titirangi. Well done Regan!
Joy Fu was selected as this year’s Lynfield college recipient of the Seventh Ara Lodge 348 IC Visual Arts Award ($1250.00) for consistent excellence in visual arts (Level 3 Design and Painting). Fantastic work Joy!
We wish those students leaving us this year the very best for their future, and look forward to working with those returning next year. Enjoy your summer break!
Music
This year saw some of the biggest student numbers ever in the Music Department, with over 200 Year 9 students, around 60 Year 10 students and just over 50 senior students.
Junior Music
Junior Music students have developed their skills in all key areas this year including rehearsal, group and solo performance, theory and composition. The Year 9 program has grown to include Violin and Cello as well as wind instruments, keyboard and guitar. Year 10 students have enjoyed specialising on an instrument of their choice and reaching a higher level of technical ability.
Senior Music
The NCEA performance assessment evenings were a great success, with friends and family coming along to support students. Performances were diverse in style and instrumentation, with Chamber Music, Jazz, Heavy Metal and RnB featuring in most programs. With over 90% of students gaining Achieved, Merit or Excellence for their group and solo performances, it has been a fantastic year.
Students are also enjoying using updated software on the computers to produce creative and well-notated compositions and arrangements. This year tasks included writing Blues, Chamber Music, Pasa Dobles and Instrumental Heavy Metal, as well as arranging for Guitar Ensembles, Funk Bands and Big Bands.
Congratulations to all students who have worked hard and reached their goals this year.
Mrs Norman
Mr Sue
Mr Flockton
Dance and Drama
New steps taken on learning pathways.Dance
In addition to our established Drama programme, this year has seen the introduction of courses at Years Nine, Ten and Eleven that combine learning in both Drama and Dance. This has been in response to students that have a strong interest in Dance and are keen to develop both their physical, expressive and performance skills.
The Dance focus in these new programmes has been on creating dance. Students work together in pairs and small groups to explore various choreographic devices and expand their movement vocabularies to present dance works based on a range of ideas. It is great to see students develop original ideas and express them with energy and grace. The students this year have impressed with their ability to collaborate cooperatively and show appreciation for the performance works of their peers.
The Level 1 Achievement Standard allowed for traditional Maori Kowhaiwhai designs as a starting point for exploring movement. This also encouraged the fusion of traditional Maori dance movements with contemporary style.
In Year Ten, the Drama and Dance class combined with the Te Reo class and went on a trip to the new Theatre to view a performance of Atamira Dance company’s new work, Te Houhi – The People and the Land are One. This proved to be a fantastic cross curricula and cultural experience that enriched both groups attending.
Drama
As always it is a delight to encounter the fresh energy Year Nine students bring to the Drama classroom. The Year Nine courses develop skills in improvisation, acting technique, devising plays, researching theatre forms and working with scripts. Highlights from this year were the Clown performances and devised presentations. Of particular note was the piece about friendship and betrayal by Elizabeth Wongchiu, Polosapina Maasi, Manisha Chandra and Neesha Rongo, who also costumed themselves beautifully. From the second cohort there were some exceptional improvisations from the following students: Zack Dahir, James Harder, Anup Menon, Aiden Moffatt, Monique Pace and Sarah Ball.
At Year Ten the students advance their improvisational skills, research the Commedia Dell ‘Arte theatre form, explore Mime, devise their own plays, and work with more advanced scripts. One of the highlights was the very amusing commedia play performed and written by Garreth Barton Lewis, Jamie Braithwaite, Blair Faith, Tracey Coffin, Mike Geaney, Rubeena Fatima and Danielle Lim Kwan. Congratulations to a hardworking team of players! An end of year production based on scripted scenes relevant to teenagers was presented to an invited audience in the PAC. This was the culmination of the year’s work and was very well received by the invited year nine and ten classes.
Senior Drama students continue to develop their performance skill-base and are challenged to think and create imaginatively. Critical thinking is also required when analysing theatre forms or periods and viewing live professional theatre.
Y11, 12 and 13 classes attended the Auckland Theatre Company’s performance of the classic New Zealand play, The End of the Golden Weather by Bruce Mason. For some Y11 students this was their first experience of live professional theatre and it had real impact. It is important to tell our own stories, and students can experience first-hand the powerful role theatre plays in both reflecting and shaping society. The opportunity given at the end of the performances to ask questions of the cast and director is always valuable and enlightening to students.