Students display

By Casey Neill
A CHINESE exchange student took out the top prize in a Burrinja student art competition last week.
Sailing Zhang has lived in the hills for the past 18 months and is completing her VCE at Belgrave’s Mater Christi College.
Her photographs of Melbourne train stations impressed ‘Vivid Visions’ exhibition judges Tiffaney Bishop, Tiriki Onus and Neil McLeod.
Sailing was shocked when the artists awarded her the prize for the best artwork at a celebration and awards night last Tuesday 3 February
“I’m really not that good, I don’t think,” she said.
Her family in China were excited to hear the news.
“My mum was surprised,” Sailing said.
Sailing admires Melbourne’s train stations, unlike many locals.
“We don’t have these type of stations in China so they’re very special for me,” she said.
“I catch the train to school every day and I thought ‘that’s the topic I’m going to do’.”
The 18-year-old has drawn and painted for many years, but this was her first photographic piece.
Sailing said the Australian education system allowed her artistic flair to flourish.
“Last year I didn’t know anything about photography,” she said.
‘Vivid Visions’ featured the best artwork from Year 11 students across the hills.
Students submitted more than 70 artworks to the event this year.
Entries from 24 students from Monbulk and Emerald secondary colleges, Mater Christi College and Mountain District and Belgrave Heights Christian schools were selected for the exhibition.
Judges also presented Mater Christi’s Eden Carell and Mountain District Christian School Year 12 student Georgia Sutherland with encouragement awards.
Eden’s entry was a film with the theme ‘what’s the message’.
“I basically tried to get a lot of messages from musicians and TV shows and then my own and put them on signs,” she said.
Her three friends then displayed the messages in public.
The 17-year-old also composed and performed the film’s soundtrack.
Georgia submitted a sculpture and a charcoal sketch.
The 18-year-old took inspiration for two clasped, clay hands from a bible tale featuring Gideon.
“They all bent down to drink straight from the pool, but Gideon cupped his hands and drank from that,” Georgia said.
Her etching springs from imagination and fear.
“Children are often scared of the dark because they don’t know what’s in it,” she said.
‘Vivid Visions’ is now in its fifth year.
“This exhibition always offers a diverse range of artistic expression,” Burrinja visual arts co-ordinator Tilla Buden said.
“ ‘Vivid Visions’ colourfully highlights the amazing creativity of our local young people.”
Monbulk College photomedia teacher Carli Wilson said the exhibition inspired students.
“They have the chance to share their art with the community,” she said.
Ms Wilson said students could learn about a community gallery, organisation, selection processes and how an exhibition was presented.
‘Vivid Visions’ is on display in Burrinja’s Jarmbi Gallery, 351 Glenfern Road, Upwey until 15 February.