At Granville East Public School (GEPS), the Student Representative Committee (SRC) shared their ideas in a workshop with artist Christina Huynh, with students asked “what warms the heart” and “how would you change the world”.
The result is ‘A Budding Generation’, showing an imaginary world made up of a selection of subject matter that came from the workshop responses on one side of the school hall.
The other side features ‘The Gathering of the Finches’, which Ms Huynh described as “symbolic of the diverse ethnic and cultural background of the kids” at GEPS.
“The scene is inspired by the idea of gathering – an extension of togetherness and belonging – and what an ideal, prosperous and healthy environment and home could look like for them, mainly a haven,” Ms Huynh said.
Students at Auburn Girls High School are also drawing support from a vibrant contemporary Aboriginal artwork called ‘Here and Now’.
Community partnership officer, Fatima Amr, said Peter Whitton, a Wiradjuri man, and Scott Rathman, an Arrernett man, co-created the work on the gym wall which “provides inspiration, hope and a new beginning despite the many challenges faced by the students recently”.
“It shows a stream of water through the middle representing a journey of growth, of which we are all experiencing in our current environment,” she said.
“In Aboriginal culture, the turtle reflects persistence while the fish is a symbol of endurance and strength. These attributes are more important this year than they ever have been.”