Nudgee art in Excellence Exhibition
September 2, 2008
QUT Kelvin Grove recently displayed the artworks of three Nudgee College Year 12 students who were chosen from the top 150 student artworks in the state.
The students entered the artworks into Queensland's biggest art competition, the Creative Generation Excellence Awards in Visual Art and Design, and while they didn't take out any awards, artists Wade Shooks, George Pedro and Ben Tuckey did receive many pleasing comments from the public and curators alike.
"This is the fourth time St Joseph's Nudgee College has entered the awards," Head of Visual Arts Gregg Elliot said.
"We have won twice and have also taken out two final selections which is a great result."
Previously known as the Education Minister's Awards for Excellence in Art, the program has been conducted annually since 1990 and recognises and promotes excellence in senior visual arts education throughout Queensland state and non-state schools.
In order to enter the awards, Wade, George and Ben submitted their details and digital photographs of their artwork online via a secure website. This process is industry-standard for competitions, exhibitions and awards.
Entries had to include the student's explanation of the artwork, which outlined why they produced the work, what ideas and skills they used and what the work represents. These explanations, along with photos of the artwork, are below.
Leather-tramp (Sculpture) Wade's piece was nominated as one of the Top 25 pieces in the state. "I see identity as a continual process. As we walk through life we engage with a range of people and encounter numerous events and experiences that both affect and uncover people's true identities. The journey of life not only brings about the discovery of self but opens the human's eye, mind and knowledge beyond the world that we think we know so well, unveiling different sceneries, circumstances and cultures as we embark on the journey that we know as life. 'Leather Tramp' encompasses the beginning of the journey of life and follows the very first foot steps of this exploration to seek and broaden our horizons as well as shaping our identity." |
 My Patterns (Lino print) by George Pedro "This is the beginning of our culture, as I walk through the histories and myths that were passed on throughout the islands of the Torres Strait. We live off the sea, by the sea animals that represent the culture and totems. All people are in a particular group of sea animal. The culture of surviving and having the knowledge of where your background history comes from and what it means, is important for the island people to learn and is taught from the history that was given in the past; a must to keeping my cultures strong." |
 My Mark (Lino print)by Ben Tuckey "Art to me is about personal expression. Artistic expression can come in many forms and some of these forms are not accepted. As I struggle to develop my identity and express myself I find I am at times limited by how and where I can produce art. Street Art inspires a lot of what I do because it is accessible to so many. With my mark I have tried to express the evolution and growth of my journey as an artist." |