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Issue 53 – June 2015 – QUEEN MARGARET CALLING
C ontemporary artist Piera McArthur opened the doors of
her beautiful Thorndon home to Queen Margaret College
students to give them an insight into the life of a working
artist.
One of the first things Piera wanted to convey to her budding
young artists is “how magical and marvellous colour is.”
On their first stop in the kitchen, the students admired several
large paintings and Piera asked which pieces they liked and why.
The students noted the vibrant use of colour in the paintings, a
trademark of Piera’s work.
They were then welcomed into Piera’s studio, where they learnt
about her life as an artist and where inspiration comes from. Piera
had a number of her paintings on hand, which she used to discuss
balance, layering of colour and different art mediums.
Claire Ryan said she enjoyed the variety of paintings and mixture
of colours which were used.
“She showed us there were different ways to express your ideas,”
Claire commented.
Pascale Bowie was interested in the different styles and textures
Piera used for her artwork and the stories behind every picture.
It was a great experience for the girls to hear about the day to day
life of an artist in a studio.
A highlight of the visit was when the girls had a chance to create
their own masterpiece by using oil pastels and paint to create a
Year 5 students were invited into the home and
studio of one of New Zealand’s most
renowned artists.
Sharing a Gift
portrait of their teacher.
The opportunity to visit Piera not only inspired the girls but
linked in with the Year 5 Curriculum topic, How We Express
Ourselves.
Junior School Specialist Art Teacher Helen Revill said the Year
5 cohort had been studying portraiture and expressionist painting,
including the work of Cézanne, Braque and Kandinsky.
“We were looking at how artists influence one another and
playing around with the idea of the portrait, trying to be more loose
and expressive with our art,” Helen comments.
Meeting with Piera was also useful for the girls with their latest
art project, a portrait inspired by expressionist influences.
Piera had many useful tips and advice for her young protégés,
but most importantly she told the girls they had to look after their
artistic gift.
“Don’t paint what people want you to paint. Paint what you want
to paint,” Piera said.
The Year 10 students marked the day by planting 500 native
trees in the stream bank area of Karori Park. The tree
planting exercise was a chance for the Year 10 cohort to
make a service contribution to the local community.
“Instead of just fundraising, we wanted the girls to actually
complete a service,” Year 10 Dean Holly Gooch comments.
She says marking Earth Day had significant meaning for the
students.
“Environmental issues are very relevant to the girls as our future
leaders.”
Wellington City Council rangers met the students at Karori to
show them how to plant the trees correctly. Once experts at planting
trees, the girls broke into small groups and set off, shovels in hand.
Digging holes was not the easiest of tasks for the girls according
to Holly Gooch.
“Some people had an excellent technique. You needed to be
vigorous with your stomping.”
Year 10 student Meghan Schwarz planted about 25 trees and says
she enjoyed the experience.
Queen Margaret College students showed they
are not afraid of a little hard work by getting
their hands dirty for Earth Day.
Mucking In
“It was fun getting our hands dirty, helping the earth and
bonding as a year group,” Meghan says.
She thinks tree planting was a worthwhile exercise for both her
year group and the community.
“I think Earth Day is important because we live on the earth and
need to respect it,” Meghan comments.
Holly Gooch was impressed by how the students mucked in and
would hope to repeat the activity again next Earth Day.
“It is special for the students because they will be able to go back
to Karori Park with their parents and also with their own children in
generations to come hopefully to show them what they did.”
Chloe Nicholson and Kate Boswell planting trees at Karori Park