Blacktown Sun, Sydney 18 Mar 2014, by Jade Wittmann General News, page 3 - 314.

00 cm Suburban - circulation 52,336 (-T-----)

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Students know how to express their art

By Jade Wittmann
THE art rooms at Wyndham College are a space of creativity and quiet, but consistent, achievement for their year 12 graduates. The works of six students from the Quakers Hill school were selected for ARTEXPRESS this year, the largest number of any school in NSW. Principal Karen Smith said the school had prior form, with 100 student works shortlisted for the prestigious annual HSC art showcase and 54 exhibited since 2000. It was presented with the Sir William Dobell Art Foundation Award for excellence in art education on Wednesday for the achievement. It came as a very pleasant surprise, Ms Smith said. Considering were a senior college and not all of our feeder schools offer visual arts as an elective in years 9 and 10 . . . theyre starting with an empty canvas. My staff are exceptional. They grab a students strength and run with it. There is a workspace down the middle of the entire [art] block. Its an environment that lends itself to immersion. Graduate Jessica Hodges work, The Exquisite Muse of Painting, is a bright medley of stars and flowers from a distance. Up close the nine panels painted with PVC and glitter are cancer cells. The subject is close to home for Jessica, 18, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2012, and has lost a friend, aunt, uncle and grandparents to the disease. I wanted it to be something that would make people stop and look, she said. It kind of makes you feel guilty for finding it beautiful because cancer is such an ugly disease. The work will hang at The Art Gallery of NSW until May 11, then tour regional galleries. Jessica plans to donate it to The Childrens Hospital at Westmead. There were some absolutely gorgeous artworks from people in my class so to be the only one chosen to hang at The Art Gallery of NSW was insane, she said. Its actually the best feeling.

It kind of makes you feel guilty for finding it beautiful because cancer is such an ugly disease.

Blacktown Sun, Sydney 18 Mar 2014, by Jade Wittmann General News, page 3 - 314.00 cm Suburban - circulation 52,336 (-T-----)

Copyright Agency licensed copy (www.copyright.com.au)

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Glittering example: Wyndham College graduate Jessica Hodge with her work Picture: Nick Moir hanging at the Art Gallery of NSW.