ARTEXPRESSION 2022, a celebration of HSC Visual Arts!

A celebration event was held on 18 August at Adelaide Perry Gallery to close ARTEXPRESSION 2022, an exhibition of PLC Sydney’s HSC Visual Arts Bodies of Work. ​

2023 Art & Design Captain Amelia Rand, Lara Marassa, Amber Creswell Bell, Ms Jo Knight Head of Visual Arts

Dr Paul Burgis warmly welcomed the crowd to begin the official proceedings, congratulating the students on the achievement of bringing the exhibition to fruition, and speaking in appreciation of parents, family and friends who have supported the girls in their studies this year.

Special Guest Speaker at the event was curator, author and columnist, and PLC Sydney Ex-student, Ms Amber Creswell Bell. She commended the students on their efforts and also for pursuing Visual Arts as an HSC subject. Amber congratulated the girls on their achievements and described the standard of works on show as being on a par with many of the professional practitioners she works with as Program Director of Emerging Art at Michael Reid Galleries. On behalf of the College, Amelia Rand presented Ms Creswell Bell with flowers with gratitude for her participation at the event.

Lucy Rader's major work, Foreclosure. NB Lucy has recently been selected to exhibit her work in this year's ArtExpress Exhibition at the Hazelhurst Arts Centre. Congratulations Lucy!

The event also marked the handover from 2022 Art & Design Captain, Lara Marassa, to 2023 Art & Design Captain Amelia Rand. Lara reflected on the challenges and triumphs of Year 12 Visual Arts and spoke in admiration of the accomplishments of her cohort. Amelia then presented Lara with a gift on behalf of The Croydon students and staff in gratitude for the contribution she has made in 2022.

Ms Jo Knight, Head of Visual Arts then addressed her students and the Gallery visitors. She spoke with pride of the girls’ achievements, dedication and bravery in HSC Visual Arts in 2022. She said it had been an honour to have guided the cohort through HSC level Visual Arts studies.
Ms Knight then presented award Certificates for Commitment and Dedication to Artmaking Practice to: Lucy Rader, Kaitlyn Halkidis, Angela Wu, Lillian Stock, Georgia Conway and Isabella Zhang.

Lucy Hammond painting series ‘To the slaughter…’.

2021 Art & Design Captain Miss Captain Amy Hur was in attendance and presented the Captain’s Choice Award to Lara Marassa for her painting series ‘Enter the Fray’. Acting Curator, Andrew Paxton then presented the annual Mr Paxton Award to Lucy Hammond for her painting series ‘To the slaughter…’. (detail of one of the paintings within the series opposite)

Congratulations to Lucy who has also been selected for inclusion in ARTEXPRESS, as part of the 2023 HSC Showcase season. Lucy's work will be exhibited at the Western Plains Cultural Centre.

Finally, HSC Visual Art students Olivia Stavrianos, Lucy Hammond and Georgia Koletsios, spoke on behalf of their classes and presented gifts of thanks to Ms Knight, for her support and guidance during the year, and to Mrs Rader, Mrs Martin and Mr Paxton, for their contributions to launching ARTEXPRESSION 2022.

Award winners: Georgia Conway, Angela Wu, Lucy Hammond, Lillian Stock, Isabella Zhang and Lucy Rader.