Ceramic Christmas sale tomorrow, November 24, 10am-1pm, P Block Foyer, Nepean College!

ceramic pendant by Roseanna Hawes

Our inaugural graduates from the Bachelor of Visual Arts in partnership with Federation University Australia

  

WSI staff and 2016 graduates: TAFE Western Sydney in partnership with Federation University Australia

NADC is so proud of our first graduates of the Bachelor of Visual Arts program, which we deliver here at Western Sydney Institute in partnership with Federation University Australia.

This vibrant program is building outstanding artists, who have chosen our degree to further their skills and knowledge and professionalise their practice in the environment they so value here at TAFE- one of small class sizes, nurturing and supportive staff, and dynamic teaching and learning in a practice-led environment.

At our recent Graduation ceremony, Helen Brancatisano spoke on behalf of the visual arts
graduates. Her speech is reproduced below, and gives a wonderful snapshot of the BVA at Nepean Arts and Design Centre.

To enquire about his exciting program, please contact the Head Teacher : catherine.barcan@tafensw.edu.au

Meanwhile, enjoy Helen's speech.......

Good afternoon distinguished guests, graduates, families and friends. It is my privilege to be addressing you on behalf of the students who undertook the inaugural Bachelor of Visual Arts through Federation University at the Nepean Arts and Design Centre at Western Sydney Institute of TAFE. Fifteen graduates of the Advanced Diploma of Fine Arts from several TAFE Institutes seized this exciting opportunity when it became available. 

Each week for eighteen months these students, whose ages span six decades, crossed the mountains eastwards from as far away as Lithgow, or left the city and set out westwards towards the mountains to meet the challenge of further study. 

Today, there are three observations I would like to make about our time together on campus:

The first regards the huge diversity of our group. Our diverse personalities were expressed in an array of visual language. We had painters in oil, acrylic, mixed media and watercolour, working in representational language and abstract. There were printmakers in lino, etching and monotype and sculptors of clay, paper mache and automated, complex paper models. Others found expression in collage, charcoal drawing and screen animation, or installation incorporating weaving, assemblage and ceramics. 

At each point in our work we were challenged with the problems that accompany the perfecting of this expression, constantly attempting to bridge the gap between our inner vision and its final manifestation. The students in our group grappled with politics and the machinations of the world, personal stories, historical and scientific narratives, and imaginary tales for children. They worked through cultural and societal issues. They responded to architecture and nature, and sought connections between the past and present. 

Paul Cezanne has been attributed with saying: “The most seductive thing about art is the personality of the artist himself.” The great fortune in studying together was just this: having the opportunity to be seduced by each other’s work and learn from it. This process was particularly facilitated by our critical sessions guided by our Studio mentors where both the extrovert and the introvert were required to present their work in progress, inviting discussion with their peers. 

My second observation is about a lesson learnt during our time together and that is, we cannot hope for that perfect time for creativity. CS Lewis observed that, “If we let ourselves, we shall always be waiting for some distraction or other to end before we can really get down to our work. The only people who achieve much are those who want knowledge so badly that they seek it while the conditions are still unfavourable. Favourable conditions never come.” 

Indeed, during the course, many students endured illness and family trauma, juggled demanding work and family commitments, and faced the unexpected and challenging problems that life tosses along our way. 

Although it is a fact that we would never wish to encounter any of these problems, it is also apparent that they inform our work in the most profound and surprising ways and this is, paradoxically, one of the reasons I believe we find ourselves so relentlessly pursuing the path we have chosen in Visual Arts. 

My final observation relates to our teachers and mentors. They were the anchors who kept our rafts stable but who also challenged us to take risks and place ourselves where we often felt uncomfortable. They listened and helped us to realise our inner visions. I believe we could not have had finer teachers and mentors than we did and would like to thank wholeheartedly our Studio Practice advisors Cath Barcan, Di Holdsworth, Stephen Hall and  Leo Robba, and theory teachers Dr Shirley Daborn and Stephen Hall. I would like to acknowledge as well, the huge contribution made by the Technical officers on our campus, and in particular Samara Kendall. 

We are also especially grateful for the support and feedback offered by Peter Pilven, the Visual Arts Program Leader, and Associate Professor Jennifer Jones-O’Neill, the History and Theory Coordinator from Federation University.

Outside the context of our University exhibitions during our course, a number of students were selected as finalists into well -regarded art competitions such as Fisher’s Ghost, Blacktown City Art Prize, North Sydney Art Prize, Hornsby Art Prize, Hunter’s Hill Art Exhibition, and the Waverley Art Prize. Some won prizes along the way. Others were involved in group exhibitions. 

As we embark on our next phase of work with the usual mix of excitement and trepidation I refer to the words of Albert Einstein: “A ship is always safe at the shore - but that is NOT what it is built for.”

I believe that this Bachelor of Visual Arts degree has provided us with the confidence to put our boats out to sea. When we feel like clinging to the safety of the shore I would like to think that we can draw on our experiences during our time together on campus, remembering that it is vital to bond with other artists, be open to suggestions, to look up to those artists we admire and to continue to work amidst whatever conditions surround us. 

Helen Brancatisano
Graduate, Bachelor of Visual Arts,Western Sydney Institute in partnership with Federation University Australia.

Five of our 2016 Bachelor of Visual Arts graduates: Karl Hellman, Barbara Hellman, Helen Brancatisano, Louise Holmes, Elaine Watson and Beverly Kirby.

Queen Street Riches and textures: Surfaces , Angles and Corners

Congratulations to Nepean Arts and design Centre students Ann Babinard, Amber Bolton, Sarah Emerson and Anita Faulkner for their participation in this exciting project, which opens tonight!

You are invited to St Marys Corner’s annual celebration of Queen Street Riches and Textures 2016 – Art. Mentorship. Community Engagements. project

 

Queen Street Riches and Textures 2016 Surfaces, Angles and Corners: Queen Street St Marys event features:

 

WHAT:
Surfaces, Angles and Corners: Queen Street St Marys Book Launch

Introduction of the book and creative processes by Angela Stretch artist and mentor

Poetry reading by members of St Marys Creative Writing Group  and community members

Promotion of St Marys Creative Writing Group 15 Years Anniversary Anthology  2016 Edition

Free social coffee, drinks and fine finger food at brand new Fusion café

Music performance by up-and-coming young local band - Nathan Scott, Jack Manley and Abbey Hinvest from Cambridge Park

 

WHEN:

Friday 11 November 6-8pm

 

WHERE:

Fusion Café Cnr Queen Street and Station Street St Marys

 

WHO:

St Marys Creative Writing Group members : Gayle Barbagallo, Adel Farag, Richard List, Gabrielle Moran, Joel Stoneburner, Michael Stoneburner and Jaqueline Tasik
Community writers: Abaker Athum, Ben, Lyn Forde, Caroline Volkiene, Tomoko Ward and Norma Thorburn (George Sullivan)

Queen St Riches and Texture guest artist and mentor Angela Stretch

Emerging artists from Nepean Arts and Design Centre: Ann Babinard, Amber Bolton, Sarah Emerson and Anita Faulkner

 

Primordium- works by Diploma of Visual Arts students 2016

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Primordium is an exhibition showcasing the 2016 graduating and continuing students of the Diploma of Visual Arts from  Nepean Arts and Design Centre, TAFE Western Sydney. Over twenty-five students will participate in this exhibition, many of whom plan to  continue their studies in the Advanced Diploma of Visual Arts,  and then the Bachelor of Visual Arts (which is offered by Western Sydney Institute in partnership with Federation University Australia). 

Students will display works from multiple disciplines including ceramics, photography, printmaking, drawing and painting, ensuring a diverse experience for all visitors and illustrating the variety of teaching expertise on offer at NADC.

The opening will commence at 12pm on Wednesday the 26th of October. The exhibition will run until 5pm, Wednesday the 23^rd November. All welcome!

Bachelor of Visual Arts students exhibition- special guest Diana Robson, Hawkesbury Regional Gallery

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You are warmly invited to the  official opening of Bachelor of Visual Arts Show, this Wednesday, October 12, from 12 noon in the Trapezium Gallery.

Our special guest will be Diana Robson, Director, Hawkesbury Regional Gallery, who will be selecting  a small number of artists from this exhibition to participate in an upcoming Art Fair at HRG.

All exhibiting artists will give a brief talk about their work in the Trapezium Gallery as part of the opening celebrations. The exhibition mostly features work by our ongoing BVA students, but also showcases the work of Carol Fitzgerald, who is completing her Degree this semester.

We hope you can join us.

Learn to draw - FREE short course starts soon!

We are excited to announce another free skillset to help you develop your creative skills. This fun and very hands-on drawing course will help you develop the skills to draw what you see in front of you, and give a solid grounding in drawing skills such as the use of line, volume, shape, tone, perspective and depictions of space. You will also gain an excellent grounding in drawing the human figure.

These much-prized analogue drawing skills can be applied in a range of creative industry contexts. There are three units in this skillset, and the exciting news is that they can be used towards course completion in the Diploma of Visual Arts, and some of the units may be used to contribute to the Diploma of Photography and Photo Imaging, and the Diploma of Graphic Design.

In addition to the unit CUAACD502 Create observational drawings, you will also also gain skills in professional practice via the units CUAPPR502 Develop own sustainable practice and BSBCMM401 Make a presentation.

We are enrolling now for our Term 4 intake. This course is held on Fridays from 9am-4pm, and it will start on the 7th of October, and finish on the 25th of November. 

Our free skillsets are filling very fast, so we recommend you enrol immediately to avoid disappointment. Enrolling is easy, just follow the link below:

https://enrolmentportal.ebs.tafensw.edu.au/Enrol/Process/GetStarted/162/950622

Ceramic Design Skillset- second group on Fridays- a few places available!

Work by an NADC student from the exhibition 'Kiln Me Softly'

Our free ceramic design skillset has proved amazingly popular- so much so we are thrilled to announce a second group has been created- this one on Fridays, starting September 16.

This course has just a few places available, and will run on Fridays from 10am-2pm for 9 weeks.

In this course you will research aspects of the history of ceramic design, and apply this research to plan & develop a small sample range of unique, handmade, commercially viable ceramic wares. You will learn to repeat cast a small ceramic bowl, and apply surface decorations, as well as develop a small cast ceramic sculpture with decorative glaze. 

You will also prototype a small piece of ceramic jewellery, and a decorated ceramic tile, learn how to use flop molds and how to apply make use of commercial and custom-made decals, like the ones in the picture above.

To secure your place, please drop the Head Teacher an email at catherine.barcan@tafensw.edu.au

but hurry to avoid disappointment!