ANNUAL Student Art EXHIBITION
Modern Ochres #13
Dec 1 2023
The Murri School annual student art exhibition " Modern Ochres", coincides with the end of year Speech Day, which is held in the school's hall. The production of art for public display at student speech presentations, has occurred at the Acacia Ridge site since 1999. During this time the venue for art display has progressively changed from an outdoor art installation, to an art exhibition occupying a vast interior space.
For many years, due the lack of a school hall, the student's end of year award presentations were held outside in a quadrangle in the centre of the school. The event, known as Speech "Night" had always been a highlight of the school calendar and provided students with the task of changing the large outdoor space with painted banners. Students worked in art classes in the final term producing wonderful works of art that were then hung from balconies and rafters.
The difficulty in having these celebratory events outside, was in the seasonal weather and the storms that would at times create havoc. Too often months of student work would be drenched and often ruined in the rain. These outdoor presentations continued for 10 years before the school received a hall as part of the Federal Government's Building the Education Revolution in 2010.
The school hall provides the school community with many more opportunities to hold events. One of the more significant being a place to hold the annual speech presentations. In 2011, the event began to be held during the day and has since become known as Speech Day. Another advantage of the new hall, is the ability to now show case and sell the students art works to the public.
The first student art exhibition was held in the school hall in the December of 2011. The event which was held over two hours was a great success. Students gained so much personal satisfaction and pride in knowing that their works were not only appreciated, but also were now in demand. In the spirit of teaching the students a few business skills, a small commission is applied to each work to cover the original cost of the canvas, and to develop the program for the following year. The greater percentage of the sale goes to the individual student, or divided between those contributing to a group work.
Images: Student artworks .