A kaleidoscope of artwork filled Appleby School’s library last week as the entire school showed off their creativity, from impressionist-style flowers to colourful korowai.
Principal Janine Higgins says the artwork was the school theme for the term, incorporating art history, social sciences and literacy.
The end result included pastel pictures inspired by Brazilian artist Romero Britto’s Mona-Cat, created by one class. Another class mixed colours to show the light and dark tones of a vase of flowers, like 19th century impressionist painter Monet. Others explored tartan patterns or created their own portrayal of the popular New Zealand children’s picture book, Greedy Cat, after learning about its illustrator.
For the new entrants, each pupil created their own korowai, or cloak, from multi-coloured ‘feathers’, and along the way went on a pretend plane to different countries to learn about their art and artists.
“They lined up with their ‘passports’, and the teacher would put on their pilot’s cap, and off they would go to a different country each week. They were excited to see which country they would go to!”
The exhibition ran for two days at the school, giving parents, grandparents and even some neighbours, the opportunity to enjoy the artwork.
“We had a grand opening and cut the ribbons. Lots of people from the community came through because the children are so proud of their artwork.”
