The Journal of Australian Ceramics Vol 53 No 3 November 2014
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Fo cus: Collaboration<br />
left: Students working on tiles, 2013; right mosaic detail showing handmade stoneware tiles. underglaze and partially dear<br />
glaze, various dimensions; photo: Rozenn Leard Photography<br />
After three weeks <strong>of</strong> brainstorming, research and image development, consensus was reached . Three<br />
main themes were seleded: the history <strong>of</strong> the school from 1895 to 2013; the relationship <strong>of</strong> the school<br />
to its military service history (the forecourt was bordered on one side by the World War One Memorial<br />
Gates and on the other side by the world War Two Memorial Library with its restored stain glass<br />
windows and doors) and the relationship <strong>of</strong> the school and its community to the local area . Each <strong>of</strong><br />
three Year 7 classes were allocated one major theme to research, develop and design.<br />
As the projed developed within the school it grew to include every student and gained momentum<br />
within the broader school community. <strong>The</strong> following is an excerpt written by one <strong>of</strong> the students, Lydia<br />
Connelly, for the school newsletter.<br />
"Mosaic mania has come to EJ! Ifyoll have lripped over the uneven concrete around fhe sundial in/rom o/the schon!<br />
and wondered why iI was built Ihat li/Oy. you are nOl alone! <strong>The</strong> Year 7 sfudenlj' are leading the charge 10 change this.<br />
Our mosaic projecI has become our Art and Technology units <strong>of</strong> study and we are rransforming the area life by file.<br />
But this is not simply a Year 7 initiative; the whole school is contributing.<br />
We have all learn/ lhe real process <strong>of</strong> creating an amazing arhvork and now we are going 10 share il wilh you so Ihol<br />
you might come in and lend a hand Without the help a/Stephanie Ourr;c/ge Field and Miss (Vanessa) Wallace our<br />
teacher. we wouldJJ 't have gO flen lhis /01: ..<br />
<strong>The</strong> whole school community embraced the mosaic. Each student is able to lind their own special<br />
tile to show <strong>of</strong>f and it is 'the place' to meet. Eyes are drawn down to check out the brocade <strong>of</strong> tiles<br />
and there are always positive comments by both regular as well as special visitors to the school who are<br />
surprised and delighted by reading the story within the tiles. <strong>The</strong> timeline lists large and small events,<br />
such as the fi rst school ball in 1929 and the fancy dress outfits paraded, the date the lirst computer was<br />
installed, and the name <strong>of</strong> the lirst student.<br />
This handmade tile mosaic is more than the tiles; it is more than the sum <strong>of</strong> the parts. It is a time<br />
capsule, a record and a celebration . It is the way the Eagle Junction State School students and the<br />
community came together to build and re-build.<br />
https:llwww.facebook.com/stephanie.outridgefield<br />
32 THE JOURNAL OF AUSTRALIAN CERAMICS NOVEMBER <strong>2014</strong>
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