Indigenous artist Aunty Vicki Thomas (middle) in front of the mural at Cornish College.
By Dennis Freeman
Throughout Term 3, Cornish College primary visual art students were fortunate to have Aunty Vicki Thomas, an indigenous artist, working with them in the primary art studio, to create a new mural for the college.
Aunty Vicki is a Bunurong/Trawlwoolway artist who feels a strong connection to her cultural stories through art practice.
Her art can be found in many private collections, on AFL jumpers, and the Bunurong Land Council uniform, while one of her works was gifted to the college’s sister school in Japan.
After walking the property, Aunty Vicki shared her visual story of Cornish College with the Prep to Year 6 students.
Students were then encouraged to express their interpretation of the Cornish College environs through artwork.
Students from Years 3 to 6 contributed to the mural, painting alongside Aunty Vicki and their art teacher Bex Hinton.
The mural reflects the physical indigenous aspects of our 100 acres, with its border of manna gum branches, which embrace the mapping of the school journey within.
We see the path students take as they move (left to right) through the school from the Early Learning Centre, primary and secondary school hubs, their footprints marking the way for those who follow.
Within we see the waterhole, our wetlands, and dotted through the surrounding branches are 10 of our favourite birds, all watched over by Bunjil.
The mural was unveiled by Aunty Vicki in front of the whole college on the first day of Term 4 and now sits welcoming people to our Village Green.
Dennis Freeman is Director of Community Relations at Cornish College
