Generosity and mowing lemons

Nikki Mann was someone who was willing to help me from the outset get in touch with the best of practice in Hobart and Tasmania. I had a fantastic few hours chewing the fat with Nikki in her role as Arts Education Officer, musician, educational expert (she would hate that) and mother to Florence (Flossie-a delightful, scarily bright and engaging 7 year old) and 'bureaucrat'.

In Nikki you have the best range of attributes - a practice background, teacher, facilitator, curiosity expert with administrator experience, which brings a rich and open mix to the conversation. Nikki told me it was not looked upon positively if you had not traveled internationally, particularly to Europe. My response to that is where would I find such an informed, open, positive and professional advocate for cultural education...I hope the Tasmanian education department recognises their attributes.

The one thing that horrified me was when 'waxing' (sorry, couldn't resist) lyrical about lemon trees in the gardens in Hobart, she said 'our tree is so prolific, when they fall off we just mow them in with the grass, it smells lovely!" .... that to me is the ultimate sin ...

Tasman

Do you know I walked over the Tasman sea today, today of all days....it was absolutely beautiful. Actually it was the Tasman Bridge from Rosny to Hobart and the Botanic Gardens. Brian West - Head of Performing Arts - is an outstanding example of someone with huge experience who has used that to create a second to none resource for 1200 year 11/12 students (S5/6 pupils) in performing arts in Rosny College.

This must be industry standard equipment in recording, editing, mixing, playing, teaching, facilitating and general aspiration for young people. From the 20+ schools that go up to year 10 (S4), there are 5 Colleges in Hobart that take all pupils year 11/12 (S5/6)that want to continue their studies. 200 areas of study available in Rosny for 1200 students..it is phenomenal...the timetabler must be a shadow of a person trying to capture all that....however what they do offer in performing arts is world class, aspirational and highly professional.

The dance department is equally impressive with Debs as sole teacher with huge expertise in a range of dance forms. Looking forward to the performance in Salamanca on 11 April.

I have come away with a sense of hard graft, commitment, ambition and professional pride .... long may it continue and my hearty congratulations to Brian and his team who have professionalised their practice for all to enjoy and benefit from.

Big Picture School

Had a fantastic morning at Brent Primary School in Glenorchy, Hobart where Big Picture School staff and students are decamped whilst they wait for their new state of the art learning environment to be ready. Met the Principal, Graham Speight and two further members of the team - Mark and Amanda. Mark had to rush off to take a group of year 10s (4th year) to speak at a Stephen Heppell conference about the work they have been doing....

The concept is simple and yet complex - individual student passions are the drivers. Individualised Learning Plans (ILP) are 'negotiated' between students and staff for each research area based on the following framework:

1. Make it work for you - the learning plan
2. Pursue your passions - internship placements
3. Making it real - learning through internship
4. Organise and do it
5. Exhibit it
6. Reflect and assess it

Intellectually challenging for linear thinkers, but based on Guy Claxton and Daniel Pink's (and more) thinking and research.

http://msuctlt.blogspot.com/2010/01/daniel-pink-on-motivation.html

Graham et al have customised for Montrose Bay High School in Glenorchy and created a fantastic matrix of experiences and outcomes for students. Each student has a main contact who acts as a supervisor and they earn points to lead to graduation. Much too complex to get my head round in a morning so have been invited back to meet with Mark and Graham and for a third time to observe lessons. Thursday I meet the architects of the Big Picture School and the project manager of the percent for art element of the new build ... it will be interesting to see how they have interpreted the concept. One key factor - schools in Tasmania have complete autonomy to design a curriculum that suits their context - oh until the Federal Government imposes 2 hours of literacy and numeracy on all schools per day as they head towards national testing.....hmmmm. Graham Speight has 28 years as a Principal behind him to add gravitas to his idea. Will be able to go through the recorded interviews and update at a later date. Why are all schools not like this???

The image was in the school!

www.bigpicture.org.au

The wifie and the wifi

Thanks Cros for the title......spent two days trying to get this computer sorted. So, advice to fellow Churchill travelers, give yourself time to get settled and legislate for things that don't quite go to plan! I am happy to say, thanks to Next Byte and Telstra, I am wireless, backed up and can get photos on line ..... soon.

Hobart is a delight, tomorrow's appointment is on and will reschedule todays. Onward and upward... Welcome to Tasmania!

Printmaking in the bush

Jeff Gardner and Kareen Anchen have established a fabulous printmakers workshop, gallery, studio, framers and home outside the picturesque town of Maldon in Victoria. The workshop editions prints of a number of prominent artists working in Australia, including Rob Maclaurin and Wendy Stavrianos. Kareen is also the youth programmer for the Castlemaine Arts Festival (more to come on this) .....

The M25

is what Rob Maclaurin refers to as his route to work ... it is actually a beautifully peaceful pathway up the garden to his amazing studio on Hoopers Road in the bush near Chewton, Castlemaine, Victoria. ... What a wonderful situation he and his family have here, isolated but near friends and within striking distance of the all important fishing. Rob, Jean, Angus and Rosie love the peace, natural environment and friendship offered so generously by many who live in the area. His landscapes in oil on linen capture the soul of Australia and record silence, colour and scale like no other ... his plein air work has a freshness and energy about it and along with his larger works tell the story of a wide range of remote parts of Australia. Rob works extremely hard to maintain his practice and to be true to the beliefs and traditions he established whilst at Edinburgh College of Art. The successful life he has created for himself and his family are testament to hard work and determination to live here after winning a Sir Robert Menzies Fellowship in 1995/6 to the Dunmoonchin Foundation Studio Residency. Rob is represented in Europe by Osborne Samuel, London and by Axia Modern Art in Melbourne.

Castlemaine XXXX

Apparently Castlemaine XXXX was started here but is now made in Brisbane ... This is a fascinating area, gold rush, first alluvial digging for gold ... must buy a spade ... Have just visited Castlemaine Art Gallery to meet the Director - Peter Perry, Curator - Kirsten MacKay and Education Officer - Kate Stones. Excellent collection and developing education programme. Huge opportunities coming up in the next year to build new audiences as they plan for an exhibition of 10 artists who came from Scotland and settled in Australia. Rob Maclaurin is one of the contemporary artists, a fellow Hospitalfield student, now living in the bush in Chewton with his family. Visiting his studio this week.

For a small regional art gallery that is privately funded mostly, they are innovative in their practice and committed to showing works of those who have not been well represented in other Australian collections, which makes this a special place to visit. Thank you to Peter, Kate and Kirsten.

Melbourne

Picked up a brochure - Autumn in Melbourne - in March there is the Melbourne Fashion Festival, 2010 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix and the Food and Wine Festival....Autumn in March.....hmmm. It is like a lovely summer day at home. Had 3 hours sleep since Friday am, I want more but need to stay awake till 8pm tonight, apparently, so just 6 ish hours to go......roll on

Leaving...

just about to board the flight to Dubai....last night at the Sculpture Workshop got some great contacts from Andrew, Stevie and Callum...thanks guys! Here I go........

Nearly ready to go

well, ok not quite, but itinerary is now set with some great projects, individuals and schools to visit ... Australia here I come! Leave on 19 March and arrive on 21 March .... weird, where do the days go .....