The talented 2023 ELC students recently hosted their first art exhibition centred around the captivating themes of Birds, Autumn and Monsters.

As part of their How We Express Ourselves Unit of Inquiry, these remarkable young artists created a collection that showcased their ability to express themselves confidently, creatively and in more than one language.

Their visit to the Belconnen Arts Centre in May served as inspiration for their gallery. Immersing themselves in art and exploring various art forms not only stimulated their creativity but also encouraged them to ponder, question, and foster new ideas.

Students were also introduced to gallery etiquette during their excursion, including the practice of keeping their hands behind their backs to refrain from touching the artwork. Staff encouraged students to look at the art, sculptures and creations and wonder which materials were used to make them and how the artist had produced each piece.

Back in their classrooms and drawing on their gallery visit, students chose the medium they wanted to work with: painting, drawing, sculpture or collage. They then selected their themes and used books and other visual resources to help inspire their ideas and imaginations.

With their masterpieces complete, the students reflected on their artwork, giving each piece a meaningful title. They then collaborated on deciding how their works should be displayed in the gallery and even set prices for potential buyers. It was heartwarming to see their price tags, ranging from "free" to "three monies," "20,900 golden coins," and even "four cars." Parents who visited the exhibition kindly offered Monopoly money to purchase the students' creations.