Art stars exhibition 

‘Art stars’ exhibition has evolved from what was previously known as The Creator’s Room exhibition. The purpose of this event is to ensure that Canterbury high school student artists have a platform for their work to be seen and purchased. 

Original art works are for sale as well as prints. For the second year now this show took place in the Hereford street atrium, and ran for 2 weeks. This year we were represented by 2 current students in Year 13 – Grace Lackie and Kaitlyn Courtney. Art stars are also showing work of alumni of previous years exhibitions, which meant that some new works of Avonside Past Pupils Kirsty de Heer and Elise Waterson were also on show. 

Both Past Pupils are currently studying fine arts at the University of Canterbury. We hope to see more students enter and exhibit works in Art stars in future years.

Linwood Eastside Gallery exhibition 

Avonside Girls’ High School Art department, alongside other secondary schools in the East of Christchurch, were invited this year to partake in a group exhibition in the beautiful gallery space of Linwood Eastside Gallery. 

This was the first year of this group exhibition and we are excited to see such a great idea continue into future years. We were represented by 12 incredible artists from Year 12 and 13 across the media of painting, printmaking and photography. 

Student artists include: Year 12: Sarah McCaffery, Emma Morrow, Chloe Gittins, Sohraya Pope Wright Year 13: Caitlyn Dickson, Alex Erikson, Leah Wilson, Olivia Kingi, Liz Webb, Venetia Larraman, Lara McConchie, Kaitlyn Courtney

Waitaha English – Steve Langley writing competition publication 

Avonside Girls’ High school was selected this year to provide student artwork for a publication that is created to showcase the work of the Steve Langley writing competition winners. The art pieces selected were created by students Dylan Wansbrough, Javae Reynolds, Lily Bond and Kaitlyn Courtney.

Mia O’Malley & Cyryll Kabigting – Scholarship winners 2021 

Mia O'Malley

We were incredibly proud to celebrate the hard work of 2 photography scholarship winners from 2021 in the Academic Colours (?) Assembly this year. Mia O’Malley Mia’s work is a personal investigation. While growing up with her mother and grandmother, Mia has been surrounded by many precious photographs, items and clothing that both have kept throughout their lives. Her photography project acts as a vehicle for finding out more about them and their lives in different eras of time, and a way of bringing new life to the special hand me downs she has received. Mia is currently studying a Bachelor of Design (photography) at Massey University in Wellington.

Cyryll Kabigting 

Cyryll’s work draws attention to both the reasonably recent availability and addictive nature of Korean drama shows, as well as the ‘binge watching’ culture of TV series that has become normalized. 

Her portfolio goes on a narrative based journey, with her character’s Korean drama addiction spinning out of control. She has fallen in so deep that she believes she is the lead character of the show, only for the series to end forcing her to come crashing back to reality. Cyryll is currently having a gap year before future study. 

Top Art exhibition 

This year one of our photography scholarship winners Cyryll Kabigting was also selected to have her level 3 photography portfolio be a part of the Top Art exhibition. 

Her portfolio travelled the country, stopping for a week in each main centre, alongside the other top portfolios selected from across New Zealand. 

A group of level 3 Visual Arts students visiting the Top Art exhibition in August during its week on show in the Christchurch Art Gallery. 

Scholarship group

This year we have continued to work towards stronger support and structure for students aiming to submit for scholarship in a Visual Arts subject. On Thursdays after school students have the opportunity to stay in the art department for more time to work on their NCEA art work, as well as targeted support with submitting for scholarship. We have several students working towards scholarship Visual Arts this year and we wish them all the very best with aiming high.

End of year Portfolio exhibition

On Monday 31st October all portfolios from NCEA levels 1, 2 and 3 were exhibited together in the art department for students, friends and whanau to come and see. It was wonderful to celebrate the culmination of a year of hard work, particularly considering the difficult start to the year for students navigating hybrid learning in practical subjects.

Caite Mitchell Solo Exhibition

Year 13 student Caite Mitchell had a solo exhibition of paintings and monoprints yesterday in the Visual Arts department. Since finishing her level 1 portfolio earlier this year, she has been venturing towards developing her own art practice and making stand alone pieces for sale. All piece’s were sold at yesterday’s exhibition – Well done Caite.