Sujaan Biddie’s eyes light up when he talks about photographing his favourite cars, which he posts on his Instagram page. Photo: Nicholas Ward
The ACT’s largest student art showcase is on at the M16 Artspace in Griffith until the end of the month (29 June).
Step into the Limelight, now in its 19th year, showcases artworks from K-12 from public schools across the city. This year’s theme, Enter the Unknown, saw a huge variety of interpretations across the over 400 artworks on display from 29 schools.
Teacher Emily Appleton helped organise the show and said it’s amazing to get to facilitate this creativity.
“It’s pretty awesome because I think you get to see this beautiful progression from kids creating work, and then all the way through you can see their technical skills grow and the ideas expand, and they start challenging and provoking, or even just creating art for the beauty.”
As part of the showcase, two photographers each received $1000 from the Isabel Matthews Scholarship.
First-time entrant and a winner of one scholarship, year 9 Lyneham High School student Sujaan Biddie, photographed Black Mountain at night. He said photography, especially of cars, is his passion.
“This was taken at the Arboretum, looking onto Black Mountain with the Telstra Tower in the background. I guess I just thought the winding road, the lights, show the movement … Because I had the shutter speed quite slow, I didn’t have to raise the iso, which meant I could get higher quality and less grain in the photo,” Sujaan said.
The other winner of the event, Taali Dixon-Jain, who took a black-and-white 35 mm still, developing it herself in her school’s darkroom, said she loved “exploring different techniques, taking risks, and then hoping your work comes out, showing your creative side”.
For her, winning was a surprise.
“I didn’t know that my art had been entered; I wasn’t sure if it was in an exhibition or anything. And I know people who have won this award before, so to be recognised and celebrate Isabel’s legacy is pretty amazing.”
Taali Dixon-Jain took her winning photo with a vintage film camera; she plans to use her winnings to purchase film equipment. Photo: Nicholas Ward.
David Mathews established the Isabel Matthews Scholarship after the loss of his daughter.
Mr Mathews says fostering creativity is always rewarding.
“My daughter attended public school … and she just loved art. She was already fostered by teachers who wanted to support her and wanted her to be creative,” he said.
“For me, there’s a payback and a shout out to those teachers that are really the inspiration for our children and young people, but an encouragement for kids themselves to go, this is fantastic. It’s something that you can do. Don’t let anybody tell you you can’t.”
David Mathews started the Isabel Matthews Scholarship to honour his daughter. Photo: Nicholas Ward.
The Enter the Unknown showcase is on until the end of the month at the M16 Artspace, 21 Blaxland Crescent, Griffith. It is being followed by another artist showcase, the Gala showcase in September, which focuses on the performing arts.
