FREE Accredited Summer Event (6 hours)

Preservice & in-service teachers

Visual Arts - developing deep knowledge
This day is about developing your visual arts making skills and Aboriginal content
knowledge about this area of BOSTES Visual Art syllabuses

At Graduate level
Focus Area 1.4:
Provide opportunities for students to develop
understanding of and respect for Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander histories, cultures and languages.
Focus Area 2.4:
Demonstrate broad knowledge and understanding of
the impact of culture, cultural identity and linguistic
background on the education of students from
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds.

Date:
Friday 16th December 2016 or
Saturday 17th December 2016
Who: WSU preservice teachers/ external in-service teachers (this
course has been BOSTES accredited)

Spaces Available
The session covers:
Clarification of important cultural links to a range of Aboriginal artists
Definition of Aboriginal Art- esp. print making
Examination of critical points in teaching Aboriginal Art (myths and misconceptions)
Discussion of significant Aboriginal artists which could engage all students
Ideas on how to approach teaching of Aboriginal artists without breeching protocols
in classroom

We will examine Aboriginal printmakers, Aboriginal art communities and the complexities and
protocols associated with art making. Aboriginal artists and what their works may bring to a range of
teaching settings- the workshop would be useful to not only Visual arts teachers but also is linked to
topics in History, society and culture, as well as English. Although the skills in this workshop are
focused around building the capacity of visual arts teachers it is also about the narrative that
surrounds Aboriginal art/artists and educators more broadly. Every one of us needs to learn more
about how we can differentiate learning moreover a little bit of art therapy is good for all of us.

Register Here: http://doodle.com/poll/pudqavwpdqfcqqr7

This event is part of the project Widening Indigenous Participation in Higher Education
Through Strategic Partnerships supported by the Department of Education, HEPPP
Partnership project funds. WSU School of Education: HEPPP - Teachers in Training Project.
Shirley Gilbert
A Gunditjmara educator, Shirley will construct the setting for this learning event and raise some of
the complex challenges for non -Aboriginal and Aboriginal teachers working with Aboriginal content
in classrooms. The workshop starts with hands on activity about what is Aboriginal art? The
workshop will undertake an examination of some of the key protocols required in assessing how
your classroom teaching moves forward in respectful and powerful ways.

Shirley was a key writer and facilitator in the construction of the NSW Aboriginal Artist, National
Artist and Copyrights Kit materials located on the ARC BOSTES website. She currently teachers a unit
titled Aboriginal and Culturally Responsive Teaching pedagogies, which examines the work of Chris
Sarra, Tyson Yunkaporta and others in Western Sydneys Masters of Teaching Secondary program
Her work in Initial Teacher Education in the secondary space will develop your professional
knowledge and understandings in preparation for Standards 1.4 and 2.4 of your professional
portfolios.

Rebecca Verpoorten-Laws
Rebecca Verpoorten-Laws is a highly skilled artist who works in a wide range of media
including ceramics but for the Western Sydney University event she is putting together a
very special and tailored collection linked to printmaking and Aboriginal political posters.
This Visual Arts workshop will be exploring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander printmaking
in a historical and contemporary context. The workshop learning material will be framed
through the 8 Ways Learning Pedagogy which allows teachers to include Aboriginal
perspectives by using Aboriginal learning techniques.

Participants will learn about:

The work shop content will focus on significant contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander printmaking to contemporary Australian Art and the Global art world. Participants
will learn about the significance of symbology, narrative, country, and mapping Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander culture and the how contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander printmaking can convey powerful messages to teach about Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander issues today. Artists and artwork will be examined and explored through the
visual arts frames and through a historical overview with the addition of an artist case study
which will explore the artist practice and artwork produced.

Participants will learn to:

Participants will have the opportunity to draw upon and incorporate the key themes
learning from the part one of the workshop, such as: narrative, mapping and symbols. The
imagery developed by the participant will be unique to their own story and culture, but will
enable them to explore the theme of the seasons. The participants will use this imagery to
create their own silk screen print. Participants will learn the unique wax block silk screen
technique, which is highly adaptable and transferable for classroom use. Participants will
finish the workshop with a greater insight into Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
printmaking and with additional technical skills which are vital to all Visual Arts Teachers.

This event is part of the project Widening Indigenous Participation in Higher Education
Through Strategic Partnerships supported by the Department of Education, HEPPP
Partnership project funds. WSU School of Education: HEPPP - Teachers in Training Project.