By NICOLE VALICEK
A PICTURE can paint a thousand words and the newest addition to Iramoo Primary School is no exception.
For the past five months the school’s gifted art students from grades 5 and 6 put their artistic skills to the test and created a mural that will grace an internal corridor inside the school.
This year the school’s art teacher and specialist grade leader Samantha Gook started an art enrichment program that identified students who excelled in art.
Ms Gook said the previous mural was made to celebrate the bicentennial and was out-dated, so out of the ashes of the old mural the project was born.
The design was created by Ms Gook to represent imagery from the different cultural backgrounds of students from the school.
More than 27 grade 5 and 6 students worked for over an hour every week for 20 weeks with the result a beautiful display of colours, designs and an interlink of cultures.
The mural features Sudanese tribal markings, Burmese imagery and Arabic and henna symbols, there’s even a thistle to represent the schools Scottish principal and indigenous imagery and icons.
Ms Gook said the student’s art and painting skills improved but most importantly they were able to connect with their own cultures and learn about their peers.
“Each child chose a part of the mural they wanted to contribute to, it was interesting to watch them float toward imagery they relate to in their culture,” Ms Gook said.
“They’re really proud (of themselves). They’ve been fantastic.”
Ms Gook said the art extension program will run next year with a new group of students.
