C hristmas S tory. Th e. Art exhibition and competition 2016

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1 C hristmas S tory Th e Art exhibition and competition 2016

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3 Th e C hristmas S tory Art exhibition and competition 2016 Sydney Catholic Schools 38 Renwick Street, PO Box 217, Leichhardt NSW 2040 T (02) November 2016 JN 6023

4 Foreword THE CHRISTMAS STORY Art Exhibition and Competition celebrates its 11th year when it opens on the First Sunday of Advent this year. The Season of Advent is always a time of preparation, where we try, amid the busyness of our lives, to make space within our hearts for the coming of Christ at Christmas. Evident in this collection of beautiful and reflective artworks and written texts, is the Advent anticipation and Christmas joy of our young people. We should be very proud of our Year 5 and 6 students in Catholic schools in Sydney, Wollongong and Bathurst, as well as Catholic students in public schools, who have participated in this competition and whose work is featured in the exhibition. Reading and viewing the fruit of our students reflections on Sacred Scripture regarding Christ s coming, done in the context of their Religious Education classes, I am filled with the same sense of excitement myself as Christmas approaches. God speaks to us in the natural world, but the pinnacle of His communication to us is His Word-made-flesh, Jesus Christ. My prayer is that you will come to a greater awareness of that Word-made-flesh in the liturgy of the Church and in personal conversation with God. The work of our students, in this exhibition, invites us to ponder more deeply God and the wonders He works in our lives. Thank you to our teachers, parents and others who have helped our young people in this year s competition. I hope those who facilitated the creative and reflective process of our children, themselves feel keenly the anticipation of Advent hope and Christmas peace. To you all, I pray that you experience in your homes, schools and parishes that renewal that our celebration of Christ s coming signifies. IT IS MY GREAT PLEASURE each year to select the Executive Director s Acquisitive Award alongside the Archbishop s Choice Trophy. Both these artworks are sent to Domus Australia in Rome, where they will be exhibited for one year and viewed by hundreds of visitors from all over the world. I hope that you will discover, as I have, the beauty and joy expressed by these young students and open yourselves to the hopefilled message of Christmas. Collectively, these student artists have highlighted the themes of Advent and Christmas. Immerse yourselves in this exhibition and journey with the students from the Annunciation to the Epiphany. The thought-provoking original visions and expressions will challenge you to see this season with new eyes. The Christmas Story Art Exhibition and Competition, now in its eleventh year, has sown the seeds in thousands of Catholic students, the message of peace that they will carry in their hearts and minds throughout their school and adult lives. As you gather in prayer as families and friends during this season, I hope that you will, in partnership with our inspired teachers, continue to nurture the education in faith of these young students with enthusiasm and love. Dr Dan White Executive Director of Sydney Catholic Schools Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP Archdiocese of Sydney 2

5 You too, dear young people, can be joyful witnesses of his love, courageous witnesses of his Gospel, carrying to this world a ray of his light. Introduction POPE FRANCIS WELCOME TO THE 2016 The Christmas Story Art Exhibition and Competition. As a member of the judging panel I invite teachers, students, parents and educators to be present to the beauty of creativity and self-expression displayed in this exhibition. In her book of poetry, Touch Me, by Gwen Flynn csb, there is a poem that invites us to ponder the Christmas story through the eyes of a shepherd. In An Old Shepherd Remembers there is a moment when the shepherd ponders: On one such night, (how vividly my mind recalls) On one such night I heard angelic voices sing, and saw at last the promise of a thousand years The Saviour of the world! Divinity confined... The stable glorified... My soul knew ecstasy that lit, still lights a candle in the corner of my heart... (used with permission Kindamindi Publishers) Just as Gwen Flynn has lead us to ponder the Christmas story through the eyes of an old shepherd, the students have reflected on the sacred scripture of Advent and Christmas through various eyes. They have invited us to reflect on the events through the eyes of Angel Gabriel, Mary, Joseph, Herod, the shepherds, the Magi, and other characters of the Gospel narratives. The visual thinking, imagery, and imagination evident in the students work are key aspects of creative thinking, artistic productivity, and creative giftedness. This prayerful contemplation allows our students to be authentically learning, and to see beyond the surface to the multiple dimensions of the stories, opening themselves up to their unique powers of creative selfexpression and bringing birth to new ideas. It is my hope that you as parents, teachers and facilitators of these creative gifts, looked through the eyes of your children as they engaged in the Christmas Story Art Exhibition and Competition. May that vision be one of nurtured creativity, vivified imagination, deepened faith, and a hopefilled future. I thank the teachers and catechists who have facilitated this creative and reflective process for thousands of students from Years 5 and 6. Considering the hundreds of quality artworks and writings that were judged to make up the list of works chosen for the exhibition, I would like to list some of the important criteria that guided our decision-making: Personal expressive style and approach Originality of illustration and depth of personal reflection Relationship of illustration to chosen scripture verse Demonstrated understanding of relevant religious subject matter from the curriculum Consistency of style throughout the whole artwork Standards of skills and techniques Appropriate surface for the chosen media. Those of you who are beginning this journey of self-discovery and expression with your students, should always be prepared to employ strategies that release the inner mystic and artist lying dormant in every child. Experience of the children s art and writing in this exhibition invites a spiritual, artistic, historical, cultural and intellectual response. Take time to read both the visual and written literacy of these students. It expresses their personal, artistic and religious understanding of the light-filled story of Christmas. John Charadia Education Officer: Gifted Education, Creativity and Critical Thinking Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong 3

6 AS WE ENJOY the privilege of prayerfully pondering the artworks created by our students for this competition, may our response echo this passage from St Luke s Gospel: I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth for although you have hidden these things from the wise and learned you have revealed them to the childlike. (Luke 10:21) Through this competition, our students have been challenged to engage more deeply with the Advent and Christmas scriptures through the creative process. It is evident to all who view them how successfully they have done so. We are all enriched by their achievements and congratulate our students, their teachers and mentors on the quality and diversity of their artworks. As we anticipate Christ s coming to us as a humble child this Christmas, may we be moved to embrace his gospel with simple, child-like faith faith that is profound in its clarity of insight and vision. May our contemplation of these artworks act as the catalyst for this to occur. Jenny Allen Executive Director of Schools Diocese of Bathurst ONCE AGAIN I am very impressed with the excellent standard and quality of the works that have been selected for exhibition in the annual Christmas Story Art Exhibition and Competition. The range of perspectives and inspirations on the theme are both wonderfully imaginative and expressive. After taking the time to view each of the pieces, I felt a strong sense of each artist s deep personal connection, artistic intention and scriptural integration and interpretation, characterised by the hope and joy so inherent in the birth of the infant Jesus. I sincerely congratulate every student who has been selected and thank all participating Catholic schools and Catholic students in public schools for the diversity of opportunities they provide to nurture the creative thinking and expressive talents of their students. Peter Turner Director of Catholic Education, Diocese of Wollongong THE CHRISTMAS STORY Art Exhibition and Competition is a special reminder that everyone from the very old to the very young keenly appreciates the true meaning of Christmas. The Catholic Weekly is proud to continue our support of the exhibition and again, we look forward to sharing the beautiful, inspiring and original artworks created by students, with our readers. This year again, we acknowledge the talents and insights of the two students whose artworks have been judged to best express the meaning of journey that is integral to the Christmas story. We are delighted to support this project, an initiative of Sydney Catholic Schools, which encourages the students creative and artistic expressions of this wonderful season. Peter Rosengren Editor, The Catholic Weekly 4

7 SCHOOL CLUB is an Australian familyowned business, and we are proud to continue our support and association with the 2016 The Christmas Story Art Exhibition and Competition. Christmas is strongly associated with family life, religious practice, joy and celebration. Our School Club Encouragement Award each year is given to an artwork of artistic quality and meaning selected from the Catholic children s work from public schools. We admire the dedication of volunteer Catechists that give up their time to educate these students. The artist I have chosen this year has created a fine coloured pencil drawing with energy and self-expression. The artwork focuses on the joy and sacredness at the moment of the beginning of Christianity. Gary McManus School Club Manager THANK YOU to Sydney Catholic Schools for the opportunity for our parish children in government schools, to take part in The Christmas Story Art Exhibition and Competition. Congratulations to the students for their thoughtfulness and creativity. Thank you to the Parish Catechists for your enthusiasm and planning to make the most of the half hour you have with the students each week. I thank John Charadia especially, for his dedication in organising this event and our CCD Faith Education Officers for helping to promote this creative initiative in state schools. Well done to you all for your creativity to bring forth the beauty and truth of God-with-us. May your artwork become a meeting place with God a shared point of delighting between God and you. To each of you and all those who see your artwork, may you be inspired to encounter Jesus, especially as we prepare to celebrate with joy His birthday this Christmas. Douglas Mawhinney Director CCD Sydney Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (Sydney) Supporting Parish Catechists ONCE AGAIN our artistic students have demonstrated their engagement with Sacred Scripture and the Catholic Tradition in a creative way. The Christmas Story Art Exhibition and Competition has not only become a feature of the annual calendar of Sydney Catholic Schools, it also showcases the creative talents of our young people. Art has long been the medium through which one communicates both beauty and truth, and for this the students are to be commended for their work. Anthony Cleary Director, Religious Education and Evangelisation 5

8 Archbishop s Choice Award Lara Nero Year 6, St Mary s Catholic Primary Drummoyne The Annunciation Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favour with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are going to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son Of The Most High. My artwork demonstrates a very significant story in the Bible, it portrays the moment when the Angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would be the Mother of Jesus. I connect with this Bible passage as it makes me think of my own future. I wonder if I will feel like Mary when I find out I am going to be a mother? The dove was placed as the focus of the artwork; it is dominating in size and draws the viewer s attention. The dove symbolises the significance of the Holy Spirit. Mary and the Angel Gabriel are positioned on the dove s wings to represent the guiding light and nurturing nature of the Holy Spirit. The fire and wind, depicted as symbols of the Holy Spirit, are painted in vibrant, warm colours, which create a welcoming mood. I chose to use a variety of techniques including pastel, warm colours, textures and patterns in the clothing of the Angel and Mary, to emphasise warmth and compassion. The background and the dove have been painted using vibrant colours to signify the celebratory nature of the event. 6

9 F I RST P RIZ E Y EA R 5 Rian Mangubat Year 5, St Michael s Catholic Primary Meadowbank A Light in the Darkness Mary, with a beautiful phthalocyanine blue coat covering a shimmering white dress, holds Jesus. Joseph, in burnt sienna and gold, smiles with joy at his son s birth. While the family admires their son, two infant angels fly close to the Angel Gabriel, who gave the message to Mary, watching from the bright heavens above. I drew inspiration from the movie Beauty and the Beast. The narrator tells the story while stained glass windows show what happened to the young prince. I made a stained glass window of Jesus birth. I used gold for the manger because Jesus was the king, dark blue to make the angel sections shine, and a fading shade of rich gold to signify the holy ones. The Château de Versailles inspired me. The King had golden infants stuck to his wall as decoration, except in my painting I added tiny wings that I also noticed on the ceilings of the palace that were hand painted like the heavens, among the clouds and angels were infants with tiny wings, shooting arrows. I drew inspiration for Jesus from my baby brother who came home from hospital wrapped in a tight, pure white blanket. The spaces filled with intricate patterns of fleur-de-lis and stars, create darkness, hence the title. 7

10 Zoe Wegner Year 5, St Paul s Catholic Primary Camden An Angel s Whisper Dreams are such a valuable thing. The words of a dream depicted in Matthew 2:12 - And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route, spoke to me, as they not only reflect the Magi s journey but my own. The Magi are my favourite characters in the Bible, the way they travelled for miles to see the miraculous child is inspirational. The Angel, softly portrayed in oil paint, represents all those who were lost and have come back in our memories and dreams. The bright orange and yellow trail represents the magical feeling the angel leaves. Vincent Van Gogh s Starry Night inspired this style, as I love the way the colours flow through each other. Each stone expresses the emotions of anticipation and wonder that the Magi feel, as they sleep in the corner reflecting on the long, hard journey. The star is like a firework bursting with bright, warm colours showing the importance and vibrancy of the night. Even though it was a joyous night, the cool dusk colours, represented with the fusion of tones in the oil paint behind it, show that not all was well in the mysterious dream, for it was a warning to the kings. SECOND PRIZE YEAR 5 8

11 THIRD PRIZE YEAR 5 Charles Houssarini Year 5, St John Vianney Catholic Primary Greenacre Love and Awe on Christmas Night The Scripture of Luke 2:9-10 shows the love and awe felt by the shepherds on Christmas Night. The Angel Gabriel said to the shepherds to not be afraid for he would bring Good News that will cause great joy for all the people. The love and awe in this scripture passage is shown through the three shepherds kneeling in amazement, as the Angel Gabriel appeared to them. The angel gave them the Good News that Jesus had been born. I chose to paint the shepherds in a silhouette style to show the great amount of shock and awe they felt when they saw the angel. The glow around the angel lights up the night sky and highlights a path for the shepherds to follow. This path leads them to see Jesus Christ in the stable. Our Lord was born on Christmas Day to bring us love and peace in our lives and hearts, and this is shown through the shepherds raising their hands up to the heavens. 9

12 HIGHLY COMMENDED YEAR 5 Lily Samuel Year 5, Holy Family Catholic Primary Menai The Symbolic Journey My artwork is very symbolic. The colours and shapes represent many things about the passage. The dove, a symbol of the Church, is the assistant through which the Holy Spirit works on Earth. The golden wings symbolise what is precious, valuable and joyous about the presence of God. The white of the dove demonstrates purity, holiness and virtue. The star represents the Star of David, as mentioned in the future passages of the Christmas story. The golden wings of the dove represent the Angel Gabriel, a messenger of God. Joseph, the donkey and Mary are the three shapes near the centre of the picture. The colourings inside them show the aspects of their personality and how they lived. King Herod, the scorpion, is hot on their trail and so therefore, is closely positioned by the family. 10

13 HIGHLY COMMENDED YEAR 5 Ronan Porter Year 5, St Joseph s Catholic Primary Molong The Shepherds My artwork is based on the scripture passage Luke 2:9-14. The shepherds were out caring for their sheep when an angel appeared from Heaven to speak to them about baby Jesus. The angel came to Earth to give the shepherds a message from God. God chose the shepherds because they were humble. The angel told the shepherds that a saviour had been born. The shepherds were terrified because the angel was unlike anything they had ever seen. I tried to capture, in their expressions, their feelings of surprise and worry. Using aqua, purple and different shades of blue, I illuminated the sky. Around the angel I painted light blue shades and dark blue next to that, to show how God s light can overcome even the darkest days. I used brighter shades of yellows, browns, oranges and grey for the shepherds, to make them stand out from the dusty hills in the background. I outlined their faces to highlight their feelings at this astonishing moment. 11

14 FIRST PRIZE YEAR 6 Stella Barahona Year 6, St Paul s Catholic Primary Camden In the Arms of an Angel Inspiration came to me from a variety of sources. Firstly, my artwork is an interpretation of Matthew 2:11-12 highlighting Mary s contemplation of God s gift. I have captured this precious moment between Mary and Jesus that isn t specifically mentioned in the Bible. Secondly, I chose to do an appropriation of Gustav Kilmt s Mother & Child. It reminds me of the inseparable love I have with my mum. She holds me so close in her arms, just as I imagine Mary did with Jesus. Additionally, Klimt s positioning accentuates this strong bond that I wanted to mirror and I felt attached to his beautiful painting. The colours purple and blue are symbolic of peace and pure royalty, and this is why I have wrapped Mary and Jesus in these. Mary, cradling Jesus in her arms, represents this strong bond and unconditional love she has for her new baby, born to be the light and king of the world. Leonid Afremov, who uses amazing techniques exploding with thick painted layers bringing vibrancy and warmth, inspired the sky. In using this technique with impasto gel and paint, I was expressing the emotions of joy and wonder felt in this moment. I used the Bible and tissue paper to create feathers intertwined, to highlight Mary always being protected in the arms of God s guardian angels. 12

15 SECOND PRIZE YEAR 6 Caleb D Souza Year 6, Regina Coeli Catholic Primary Beverly Hills I Will Protect You In my artwork, I drew God watching Jesus in Mary s womb as she travelled on the path to Jerusalem. I have included the inscription I am always watching from heaven above. I will protect you, even before your birth. This shows how God is always with us, through good and difficult times, even when we don t realise it. I chose the journey to Bethlehem because to me, this recounts her experience of hardship and joy. The hardships of course, having a heavily pregnant Mary travelling by donkey and finding a place to stay, which eventually was at the back of an inn. The joy was to have the King of Kings, Jesus the Messiah, be brought into this world. It would have been extremely difficult travelling to Bethlehem in such conditions, dealing with tiredness and nowhere to sleep in a desert, as well as dehydration from the heat and hunger. These issues would have taken a toll on their journey to Bethlehem, but they made it with just enough energy to continue. Having understood that Mary and Joseph experienced personal hardships on their journey, is symbolic of my own difficult times, as well as good times that I have personally experienced. This story helped me to understand that I am on a journey to grow closer to God and strengthen my relationship with him. 13

16 THIRD PRIZE YEAR 6 Lara Nero Year 6, St Mary s Catholic Primary Drummoyne The Annunciation Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are going to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son Of The Most High. My artwork demonstrates a very significant story in the Bible; it portrays the moment when the Angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would be the Mother of Jesus. I connect with this Bible passage as it makes me think of my own future. I wonder if I will feel like Mary when I find out I am going to be a mother? The dove was placed as the focus of the artwork; it is dominating in size and draws the viewer s attention. The dove symbolises the significance of the Holy Spirit. Mary and the Angel Gabriel are positioned on the dove s wings to represent the guiding light and nurturing nature of the Holy Spirit. The fire and wind, depicted as symbols of the Holy Spirit, are painted in vibrant, warm colours, which create a welcoming mood. I chose to use a variety of techniques including pastel, warm colours, textures and patterns in the clothing of the Angel and Mary, to emphasise warmth and compassion. The background and the dove have been painted using vibrant colours to signify the celebratory nature of the event. 14

17 HIGHLY COMMENDED YEAR 6 Amelia Drew Year 6, All Hallows Catholic Primary Gulgong The Midst of the Darkness Matthew 2:9-12 The Visit of the Magi. My artwork shows the moment when the Magi followed the same star they had seen in the East and it went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. The mystery of this moment is shown in the haunting glow of light in my artwork. I have used very intense colours; deep dark blues, turquoise and aqua to show the still and quiet scene that the Magi found in Bethlehem. When the Magi arrived, they went into the house, and when they saw the child with his mother Mary, they prostrated themselves and did him homage. They had a long, quiet moment worshipping the Son of God. I would like the viewer of my artwork to look into the gloomy darkness and see the light of the Son of God. In the midst of the darkness, we have found the promise of Emmanuel. 15

18 HIGHLY COMMENDED YEAR 6 Marco Padovano Year 6, St Michael s Catholic Primary Mittagong A Thousand Stitches My artwork depicts the scripture passage Luke 2:1-5, especially the path that Mary and Joseph are travelling through the desert. It is evening and I wanted the star to be the focal point. The rays were giving Mary and Joseph hope and strength. The brightness of the star shows how strong God s love is and how it smashes into the night. I wanted to show that they still have far to go to reach the city of Bethlehem in the distance. My inspiration for the weaving came from observing photos of Bedouin rugs. I have tried to recreate the colours and textures of the rugs used in the time of Mary and Joseph. I chose to create my artwork in long stitch. The long stitch is in different sizes to show perspective and distance. The range of colours represents the light and dark of their journey. The changing colours of the foreground represent all the different landscapes they were travelling, and the changes that were happening to them through this journey. 16

19 HI GHLY COMME ND E D Y EA R 6 Sradha Rajesh Year 6, St Brigid s Catholic Primary Gwynneville The Visit My artwork reflects the Bible passage The visit of the Magi (Matthew 2:9-12). The rising sign represents a new day, the end of the reign of King Herod and the start of a new beginning. I made the sky a prominent part of my artwork because when the three wise men were journeying to worship Jesus, the star and the sky were their only tools of navigation. I portrayed the star in green because the colour green represents growth, harmony and freshness. While the desert may just seem like a desert, the colours tell more of the story. Red is the colour of fire and blood, and red symbolises Jesus being filled with the blood of the Holy Spirit. Dark blue is associated with knowledge and integrity, and in my artwork it represents Mary who shows courage and faith at the time of Jesus conception and birth. Yellow is the colour of joy, happiness and energy, and it was used to show the blissful future for all people when Jesus will reign. The colour brown depicts the simplicity of Mary and Joseph s lives before Mary said yes to giving birth to Jesus. The Magi are portrayed in orange, which symbolises enthusiasm and determination. 17

20 HIGHLY COMMENDED YEAR 6 Lars Price Year 6, St Joseph s Catholic Primary Bulli The Journey of Many My artwork was inspired by refugees of today and of the past, especially after reading the book Flight, which highlighted the similarities between the scripture The Flight To Egypt and the refugees today. Refugees today escape their homeland to keep themselves and their children safe from the wrath of evil leaders, just as we learned that Mary and Joseph fled their country to keep Jesus safe in the book Flight to Egypt. The darker tones in my artwork represent the fear and sadness that they are escaping, and the lighter colours represent God s strength in giving hope to those in need. This hope will help the people in need who are fleeing to a better place, where they can live freely, safely, and find happiness and peace, in the future. The houses in the distance show what they are leaving behind as they flee their homeland. I called this piece The Journey Of Many as it reflects the journey of many people throughout many periods in history, and how they survived as they lived with the hope that a new life was waiting for them. 18

21 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR S ACQUISITIVE AWARD Ky Rodoreda Year 6, St Therese Catholic Primary Padstow It is You In The Annunciation, the Angel Gabriel was sent by God to Mary, to ask her to have his son and call him Jesus. This baby would become a loving and forgiving king. People would worship him and they would follow in his footsteps. Mary was surprised and appreciative that the Lord had favoured her. She said, yes with confidence and without question. My artwork is of Mary through the eyes of the Angel Gabriel. I imagine that the angel would have seen Mary as a young and beautiful woman who was about to embark on an unknown, yet wonderful journey. I chose to sketch Mary because she is the perfect woman; human, yet angelic in her acceptance of being the mother of Jesus. I used a variety of B type pencils to capture the human features of Mary. 19

22 SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS AWARD Yasmine D Souza Year 5, St Mark s Catholic Primary Drummoyne The Magical Journey Where is the one who has been born, king of Jews? My artwork shows the journey of the Magi, delivering the gifts to Jesus. This reflects the scripture passage 2:1-12. King Herod demanded the Magi to find our savior, the baby Jesus, and report back to him so that he may worship Jesus. The Magi decided King Herod did not have good intentions towards Jesus, so they took a different route travelling back. I believe that the quote from King Herod in the background of my painting emphasizes the message of the King. In my artwork, I have used my imagination by designing a stained glass window, rather than using a manger. Bright colours on the window are used to represent joy and contentment. The use of bright colours reflecting from the window expresses the amount of power and emotion within Joseph and Mary. I have painted the background area dark blue, representing the evening sky. The star of Bethlehem is the feature point for the viewer. It shines out to the world announcing the birth of Jesus. Speckles of gold glitter near the star show the magic and beauty of the story. 20

23 ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Ned Inder Year 6, St Michael s Catholic Primary Dunedoo The Gifts of Advent They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary, his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and gave him gold, frankincense and myrrh. The passage that I based my artwork on is about the Three Wise Men. They came from afar to see the newborn king. They are crowding around Jesus to protect him. You can see Jesus glowing in front of the three wise men as they crowd around him, bearing gifts. Baby Jesus is the warm, glowing light. I chose to do my artwork on wood for two reasons. Firstly, I love doing woodwork and it was a way of making my artwork more individual. I started with a sheet of MDF, and then I sprayed the stars white using a paint bottle. It was hard to use paint on MDF as the paint soaked into the wood and needed a few coats before the final piece was finished. The colours of the three wise men show their royal connection. They travelled a long way and the cotton is one length, just like the long length of miles they travelled. The Three Wise Men would have travelled on a very long and winding path to Jesus. The heart in the middle of the Three Wise Men shows the love that they had for the newborn king. The richness of the threads shows the richness of the gifts offered to Jesus, and the gold, frankincense and myrrh convey that such gifts are fit for a king. 21

24 SCHOOL CLUB ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD Harrison William Taylor Year 5, Marton Public School Engadine The Holy Family I drew the Holy Family because I believe in God. God created everything and sent Jesus. I believe Jesus was the Son of God, and Mary and Joseph looked after him and loved him. This is based on Luke 2:1-5. I used pencils and lots of shading to show Mary and Joseph looking at baby Jesus and caring for him. 22

25 JOURNEY AWARD YEAR 6 Sophie Rose Lemos Year 6, St Joseph s Catholic Primary Oyster Bay If I Say Yes My artwork is showing how, when the angel comes to Mary at the Annunciation, she has to think to herself, if I say yes I will have to: Travel to Bethlehem, have this sweet baby Jesus, watch him learn and grow up before my eyes, let him go out and preach God s word, watch him get crucified and die on the cross, feel the joy as Jesus rises from the dead and shows the true power of the word of God. I chose the Annunciation because, when this event occurred, Mary was only a year older than myself, so it would have been a difficult choice for Mary to make and say Yes, but her faith in God allowed her to trust and accept the proposal of carrying Jesus. I was inspired by an artwork that was previously entered by Kristen Llewellyn titled Through Mary s Eyes. I considered that Mary wasn t able to see into the future but accepted the great sacrifices she would have to make as a result of saying, Yes to God. I also used a range of richly pigmented graphite pencils to complete the artwork, representing the seriousness of Mary s decision. 23

26 JOURNEY AWARD YEAR 5 Isabelle Van Akker Year 5, St Joseph s Catholic Primary Bulli Isaiah Prepare the Way Isaiah gave advice to the people so they could have a connection with God and prepare their hearts to be ready for the coming of Christ, the promised one. His message was a part of the scripture a long time ago and is still important advice through the ages. My concept and interpretation of the scripture is the act of letting Jesus be born into our hearts. I have painted Isaiah as wise so we are open to his message. The background colours represent a mirage, and the olive trees growing out of the rocky desert land. The authentic imagery and aged appearance of the scroll is created through the tea staining technique. I used neutral and earthy colours to capture the time before Christ. I created texture in the clothing by using cross-hatching line work with watercolour pencil. The purpose of the artwork is to teach us to clear all the greed, selfishness and anger from our hearts, so we become more holy and spiritual people through our relationship with Jesus. I would also like others to look at my artwork and read their own meaning into its message. 24

27 2016 Exhibitors In 2016, over 900 entries for the Christmas Story Art Exhibition and Competition were received from Years 5 and 6 students from the Archdiocese of Sydney, the Dioceses of Wollongong and Bathurst, and from Catholic students in state schools. Congratulations to the following 84 finalists whose artwork was selected for this year s exhibition. 25

28 1. The King is Coming Chloe Balmaceda Year 6, Mary Immaculate Parish Catholic Primary Eagle Vale 2. In The Arms Of An Angel Stella Barahona Year 6, St Paul s Catholic Primary Camden 3. The New Born Jesus Oliver Bennie Year 4, St Joseph s Catholic Primary Manildra 4. You Are Not Alone Lilian Berghold Year 5, St Christopher s Catholic Primary Holsworthy 5. The Birth of Jesus Ally Bogie Year 5, St Michael s Catholic Primary Dunedoo 6. The Journey Kayne Booker Year 6, Holy Cross Catholic Primary Helensburgh 7. Christmas in Australia Zac Brennan Year 5, St Michael s Catholic Primary Dunedoo 8. The Pieces That Lie Within Stephanie Brown Year 5, Holy Family Catholic Primary Menai 9. The Annunciation Lili Brown Year 6, All Hallow s Catholic Primary Five Dock 26

29 10. Angel In The Dream Lilly Cetranglo Year 6, St Joseph s Catholic Primary Enfield 11. Holy Light Deborah Cherish Kam Year 6, St Mary s Catholic Primary Erskineville 12. Mary s Tears Abbey Clancy Year 5, St Paul s Catholic Primary Camden 13. May It Be To Me As You Have Said Shania Coloma Year 6, Holy Family Catholic Primary Menai 14. The Gifts of the Magi Jack Cordell Year 5, St Peter and Paul Catholic Primary Kiama 15. Jesus Lights up the World Jack Cranney Year 5, St Mary s Catholic Primary Orange 16. The Magical Journey Yasmine D Souza Year 5, St Mark s Catholic Primary Drummoyne 17. I Will Protect You Caleb D Souza Year 6, Regina Coeli Catholic Primary Beverly Hills 18. The Christmas Story Chloe Dan Year 6, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Primary Mt Pritchard 27

30 19. The Midst of the Darkness Amelia Drew Year 6, All Hallows Catholic Primary Gulgong 20. Mary Praying for Peace Christian Emerton Year 5, St Mary s Catholic Primary Erskineville 21. Magi from the East Mia Fraser Year 5, St Joseph s Catholic Primary Molong 22. The Connecting Star Jack Guan Year 6, St Michael s Catholic Primary Dunedoo 23. The Importance Of Jesus Alexia Gulli Year 6, St Mark s Catholic Primary Drummoyne 24. The Moment When Lorenzo Giusti Year 6, Holy Spirit Catholic Primary Carnes Hill 25. The Annunciation Minh Ha Year 5, Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary Fairfield 26. The Window Lara Hadley Year 6, The Assumption Catholic Primary Bathurst 27. The Annunciation Annabelle Harrington Year 6, St Aloysius Catholic Primary Cronulla 28

31 28. Who Will the Magi Choose? Megan Harrison Year 5, St Michael s Catholic Primary Meadowbank 29. The Journey of Faith Peggy Holmwood Year 6, St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary Bowral 30. Love and Awe on Christmas Night Charles Houssarini Year 5, St John Vianney Catholic Primary Greenacre 31. The Gifts of Advent Ned Inder Year 6, St Michael s Catholic Primary Dunedoo 32. Journey to Bethlehem Stephanie Johnstone Year 5, St John Bosco Catholic Primary Engadine 33. The Three Wise Men Hillary Kamali Year 6, Regina Coeli Catholic Primary Beverly Hills 34. Journey to Bethlehem Sara Kim Year 5, Ermington Public School West Ryde 35. He is the Light Chrystalla Kospetas Year 5, Regina Coeli Catholic Primary Beverly Hills 36. If I Say Yes Sophie Rose Lemos Year 6, St Joseph s Catholic Primary Oyster Bay 29

32 37. Good News has Come David Li Year 6, Caringbah North Public School Caringbah 38. Jesus is the Centre of our Lives Mindy Liu Year 6, Carlton Public School Bexley 39. The Pieces Of The Magi Anamarija Lokmer Year 5, St Patrick s Catholic Primary Kogarah 40. Jesus In All Our Hearts Innasya Mackenzie Year 6, St John Bosco Catholic Primary Engadine 41. A light in the Darkness Rian Mangubat Year 5, St Michael s Catholic Primary Meadowbank 42. The Birth of Jesus and the Visit of the Magi Sienna Mannino Year 5, All Hallows Catholic Primary Five Dock 43. Blessed Are You Among Women Tara Marsh Year 6, Marton Public School Engadine 44. Thoughts Of Devotion Grace Milross Year 6, St Columbkilles Catholic Primary Corrimal 45. The Star Led Them to Jesus Danielle Muha Year 6, St Michael s Catholic Primary Meadowbank 30

33 46. Mary s Special Night Bonnie Murphy Year 6, Catherine McAuley Catholic Primary Orange 47. Mary and Joseph Diduli Mutukumarana Year 6, St Brigid s Catholic Primary Marrickville 48. Reflections of the Christmas Story Olivia Natoli Year 5, St Aloysius Catholic Primary Cronulla 49. The Annunciation Lara Nero Year 6, St Mary s Catholic Primary Drummoyne 50. The Escape Georgia Nolan Year 6, Holy Family Catholic Primary Menai 51. Faith Blooms-The Annunciation Jillian O Connell Year 6, St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary Bowral 52. Mary s Time of Peace Cooper O Neill Year 6, Holy Cross Catholic Primary Helensburgh 53. A Thousand Stitches Marco Padovano Year 6, St Michael s Catholic Primary Mittagong 54. The Love of Mary & Joseph Vivienne Pham Year 6, St Brendan s Catholic Primary Bankstown 31

34 55. The Creation Of Jesus Mindy Pham Year 6, St Brendan s Catholic Primary Bankstown 56. The Shepherds Ronan Porter Year 5, St Joseph s Catholic Primary Molong 57. The Journey of Many Lars Price Year 6, St Joseph s Catholic Primary Bulli 58. The Visit Sradha Rajesh Year 6, St Brigid s Catholic Primary Gwynneville 59. The Beginning of a New King Amy Susan Raju Year 6, Carlton Public School Bexley 60. The Tree of Life and Joy Ilaria Ramirez Year 5, St Columbkille s Catholic Primary Corrimal 61. It is You Ky Rodoreda Year 6, St Therese Catholic Primary Padstow 62. The Moment Zahra Rugless Year 5, St Patrick s Catholic Primary Sutherland 63. The Shepherds and their Sheep Natasha Safi Year 6, Clemton Park Public School Clemton 32

35 64. The Symbolic Journey Lily Samuel Year 5, Holy Family Catholic Primary Menai 65. Baby Jesus in Mary s Eyes Elizabeth Sarkis Year 5, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary Earlwood 66. One Thousand Stories of Christmas Lauren Sibbald Year 5, St Brendan s Catholic Primary Annandale 67. They who saw the Light of Jesus Christ Sienna Signorelli Year 5, St Mark s Catholic Primary Drummoyne 68. The Flight To Egypt Amiel Simpson Year 6, St Francis de Sales Catholic Primary Woolooware 69. Where is the King of the Jews Vanessa Speranza Year 5, St Joseph s Catholic Primary Enfield 70. Mary the Mother of God Lilly Anne Spriggs Year 5, Caringbah North Public School Caringbah 71. In the Night Kya Stawski Year 5, St John s Catholic Primary Dapto 72. The Journey Montanna Taff Year 5, Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Primary Rosemeadow 33

36 73. The Holy Family Harrison William Taylor Year 5, Marton Public School Engadine 74. Two Leaders Lottie Telford Year 6, St Michael s Catholic Primary Dunedoo 75. Jesus can Come to us Freely Clare Tran Year 5, OLMC Catholic Primary Mt Pritchard 76. The Visit of the Wise Men Lara Tran Year 5, St Gertrude s Catholic Primary Smithfield 77. The Escape to Egypt Eila Vale Year 6, St Catherine Labouré Catholic Primary Gymea 78. Isaiah Prepare the Way Isabelle Van Akker Year 5, St Joseph s Catholic Primary Bulli 79. Filled with Delight Robert Varga Year 6, St Catherine Labouré Catholic Primary Gymea 80. Our Father s Guidance Maryssa Vlachoulis Year 6, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary Earlwood 81. We have found our Messiah Gordon Vo Year 6, Holy Spirit Catholic Primary Carnes Hill 34

37 82. Nativity Dreaming Cazia Watson Year 5, St Christopher s Catholic Primary Panania 83. An Angel s Whisper Zoe Wegner Year 5, St Paul s Catholic Primary Camden 84. The Birth Of Jesus Emily Zhao Year 6, St Vincent s Catholic Primary Ashfield 35

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