Kindergarten explores their connection to Country

By Ms Pip Buining, Teacher

Kindergarten students are currently exploring Indigenous storytelling in their art classes, and this term we are creating a collaborative artwork with Wiradjuri Artist in Residence, Jodie Munday.

We began by spending time on Gossan Hill with Jodie, looking at and listening to Country. Afterwards, each student expressed their connection to Country by painting a square of calico using a variety of techniques and materials we gathered – rocks, leaves and sticks.

The 100 calico squares will eventually be sewn together to create a blanket for outdoor learning on Gossan Hill – keep an eye out for it at next year’s Radford Art Show.

To deepen our learning experience, we visited the National Gallery of Australia (NGA) last week. Many thanks to Ms Munday, who joined us on the excursion to share her culture and knowledge. Students looked closely at artworks in the First Nations Gallery and Sculpture Garden, exploring what these works tell us about the artists’ connections to Country.

The NGA is open every day (except Christmas) and is a wonderful place for families to visit and learn together about First Nations peoples.

Here are some links to two significant works we visited:

The Aboriginal Memorial and Ceremony