Artists plant a creative seed

The AWESOME Arts Rockingham Creative Challenge began at Bungaree Primary School this month with a new project called Seed.

AWESOME is a contemporary arts organisation for young WA people and their families that has made creative challenge its regional program for 2016.

Students worked with artists in residence Belinda Mettam and Kate Page to explore places and ideas central to their own wellbeing through the interpretation of the word “seed”.

Mettam and Page said they enjoyed introducing the concept of “thought seeds” to students and exploring how thoughts and actions could affect their sense of self and their communities.

“Throughout the residency, children had the opportunity to participate in a variety of performing arts and visual arts experiences, all connected by this concept of ‘thought seeds’,” they said.

“We aimed to create an appreciation of the value of cultivating community spirit and developing personal strengths such as dignity, integrity and tenacity from the process.”

The theme enabled and encouraged students to use literal interpretations, including physical growth, and a more metaphorical interpretation, such as sowing, new beginnings or personal growth and identity.

Each artwork was inspired by the culture, community, experiences and aspirations of the children, with the artists facilitating skills-focused, process-driven workshops.

The final artworks were unveiled at a celebration where parents, teachers and community members were invited to view them.

Selected artworks and photographs from the art challenge will be shown at an exhibition at the Perth Cultural Centre in November.