Expressions of interest have opened for The Archibull Prize 2016 and I must admit I was so disappointed to have to tell Kate from Berry Springs Primary School NT that we havent got the funding to come to the Northern Territory yet
When you hear Kate’s story you will see why I am so moved
What do you do when you are a small rural school in the Northern Territory, who are committed to developing a deep empathy for the environment, sustainability, research and regeneration of plants, animals and humans AND have an upcoming art show? Make and paint your own cows!
Berry Springs Primary School staff, parents and students don’t do anything by half measures so we developed our ‘paint a cow’ (and chicken) project to add an extra ‘zing’ to our annual art show in honour of our two school calves, Bella and Fella who were rescued by the NT Police and poddy fed by students.
The result was an outstanding success.
from this to this – now that’s innovation and creativity at its best dont you think?
Every class within the school (preschool – year 6), leadership, administration, special education support, student extension program and even a local ‘Artist in Park’ at the Territory Wildlife Park were given a blank plywood cow (and/or chicken) which had been personally designed and cut out by a group of teachers.
There was no limit on the creativity or theme for the project.
Some classes opted for a ‘food and fibre’ theme, for instance;
- using different offcuts of leather from a local stockwhip maker to cover the cow
- covering a cow with fake grass and hanging pots of cotton grown by students
- nail art using different coloured wool
- gluing different seeds and pastas
Other classes turned their cows into chalkboards, joke boards, mosaics and even a psychedelic display of the school values.
A special cow painted by Berry Springs Primary School Principal Leah Crockford and local ‘Artist in Park’ at the Territory Wildlife Park, Taylor O’Hare depicted the connection between the school and the park, along with the school song.
The cows are a real talking point for parents and visitors to the school and can be found scattered around the school grounds enjoying the beautiful Territory sun and surroundings!
Yes Kate when I have as much money as Bill Gates to do good you will be the first person I call