“Exhibition, in all its forms, whether it’s in Visual Arts or Science or Humanities, is incredibly important to the cycle of the learning process.”
Hetland, 2014 

Why exhibit? Not exhibiting in the Visual Arts is like constantly performing or practising a sport without ever performing or playing.  

At St Catherine’s School, imagine there was never a Gala Concert, or our world champion rowers stayed on the ergo machines.  

“In schools, it is all too easy for students to see their work as private expression, coming uniquely from themselves and speaking only to themselves …” (Hetland, 2014)

In exhibiting, students must be brave and bold to express their views and ideas to the public. When exhibiting, the stakes are high and students engage in the public nature of the act, they are curious about the world, persist in finding a way of communicating, develop skills while envisioning and finally resolving their expression or communication. All wrapped up as the end product offered to the audience in which they can feel exposed. 

Year 11 student, Tahlia Guzzardi exhibited three photographs at the 2022 Independent Schools Victoria Art Exhibition, and provided the following reflection:

The opening of the 2022 collection of the Independent Schools Victoria Art Exhibition was an amazing event which allowed many student artworks to be displayed for an audience for the first time in several years.  

I was delighted at seeing so many artworks created by St Catherine’s girls in the Exhibition, as well as my own photographs from my 2021 Year 10 Media classwork. Amongst all the artworks displayed were four that had been chosen as Staff Picks and had QR codes underneath them so that viewers could read the artists’ statements and staff feedback. Two out of the four Staff Picks were artworks created by St Catherine’s students, one being myself and the other Charlotte Henderson. I was immensely proud to have received such praise for my work. 

At the opening night of the Exhibition, guest speaker, Professor Flossie Chua from Harvard University, highlighted her appreciation for art and her research which deepened her understanding of its capacity to influence people’s attitudes towards themselves and the wider world.  

Chua’s reflection resonated with me because exhibitions and opportunities to share artworks and the creative expressions of the artists’ potential views on particular issues or themes are so important to not only entertain viewers, but to also support the artists, acknowledge their hard work, and understand the meanings behind their masterpieces.  

The families of the artists featured in the ISV Art Exhibition were all very supportive of the work of their own family members as well as all the interesting and diverse artworks from the seven schools. If you are yet to see these amazing artworks, they will be displayed at SE-G08, Ground Floor, Wharf Street, The District, 440 Docklands Drive, Docklands, until mid-November. Viewings are available between 1.00pm and 5.00pm, Tuesday to Saturday. 

In 2022, the Arts Faculty has continued to find ways to exhibit student work. Motivated by Barbreck Art Teacher, Mrs Virginia Guest, the Selina Yao Gallery is now kitted out with museum standard displays and can be booked by any group within the School.  

This significant space is now filled with products of creative and critical thinking and learning. New frameless displays have been designed by Art Technician, Mr Hugo Blomley and are installed in H Block. Work rotates through these displays as well as the library shelves. Our @IntheStudio Instagram platform also continues to exhibit work digitally. 

Significantly, the 2022 VCE Art Show is to be held in the Dorothy Pizzey Hall once again. Opening on the 7 October at 6.00pm, all are welcome. We feel blessed to be able to have this public celebration once again and invite our community to view and support the students’ creative work. Afterall, not only is it “…incredibly important to the cycle of the learning process…” but our students should be congratulated on being bold and brave as they are asked to exhibit their work for public critique. While students are always nervous and excited, the audience might just leave looking at the world in a different way. 

There is much at stake in exhibiting but the buzz and excitement of the ISV Exhibition opening reinforces how much is gained by this exposure. As Brazilian Artist, Romero Britto said, “Art is too important not to share.”