Forest Fantasia Comes to Life at Xavier Catholic College, Ballina
Students and staff from Xavier Catholic College, Ballina, showcase their creativity with a spectacular collaborative artwork inspired by the Richmond Birdwing Butterfly (Bundjalam). (16 November 2023)
A beautiful display of country and creativity at Xavier Catholic College, Ballina, as students and staff come together to create a collaborative artwork inspired by the Richmond Birdwing Butterfly (Bundjalam) for the Regional Arts Cultural Exchange Forum.
The Regional Arts Cultural Exchange Forum is a Sydney Catholic Schools Visual Arts Initiative, offering a unique opportunity for art students from regional Catholic schools to engage in a collaborative experience and foster meaningful conversations. Artists from different schools were brought together to promote learning, knowledge-sharing, and the creation of a collaborative art installation.
This year’s theme voted by the students was Forest Fantasia: Into The Woods.
Xavier students desired to create something that could be suspended for maximum impact in the space and could best reflect their region: a colourful version of a Richmond Birdwing Butterfly (Bundjalam) and vine. The Bundjalam is the totem of the Bundjalung people, indicating the abundance of butterflies once found in the Northern Rivers.
The students successfully completed their shared vision task due to their sustained engagement, enthusiasm and commitment to this wonderful activity.
‘It enhanced our ability to do different types of art, like using oil pastel and ink and sculpture. I collaborated with other year groups I wouldn't normally talk to. Being able to choose the project was really good because we got to do things that resonated with us: butterflies, leaves, and patterns. I liked that we all got together, and it was just really fun,’ said Year 8 student Felix.
In keeping with the sustainability focus, the group used paper bags from Coles and Woolworths donated by staff members and recycled cardboard, paper, wire, felt, string and hessian to build the large-scale artwork.
‘It was very rewarding for all of us to see it come together. We anticipate with excitement what the final collaborative artwork will look like once it is installed with all the other schools' projects.’ said project lead and Visual Arts Teacher Mrs Jasmin Rogers.
This amazing artwork will be displayed in the foyer of the Sydney Catholic Schools' head office in World Square, alongside other schools' artworks. Schools will also be invited to an unveiling of the artwork in Term 2, 2024.
