Screen-Printing:

Kaiela Arts X Spacecraft

Victorian Curriculum

Relevant Level 4, 5 & 6 Descriptions for 2020 focus. Other descriptors apply for other levels.

Our program supports learning across the humanities curriculum, general capabilities and in particular the Visual arts.

Visual Arts

In Levels 5 and 6, students explore how and why artists, craftspeople and designers realise their ideas through different visual forms, practices and processes. They develop conceptual and expressive skills.

As they make and respond to visual artworks, students explore a diversity of ideas, concepts and viewpoints. They draw ideas from other artists, artworks, symbolic systems, beliefs and visual arts practices in other cultures, societies and times.

Students extend their understanding of safe visual arts practices and choose to use sustainable materials, techniques and technologies.

Explore and Express Ideas

Explore ideas and artworks from different cultures and times as inspiration to create visual artworks (VCAVAE025)

Explore visual arts practices as inspiration to create artworks that express different ideas and beliefs (VCAVAE029)

Visual Arts Practices

Explore visual conventions and use materials, techniques, technologies and processes specific to particular art forms, and to make artworks (VCAVAV026)

Select and apply visual conventions, materials, techniques, technologies and processes specific to different art forms when making artworks (VCAVAV030)

Respond and Interpret

Identify and discuss how ideas are expressed in artworks from a range of places, times and cultures, including artworks by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (VCAVAR028)

History

Identify and describe patterns of continuity and change in daily life for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, ‘native born’ and migrants in the Australian colonies (VCHHC085)

Significant contributions of individuals and groups, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and migrants, to changing Australian society (VCHHK096)

Intercultural Capability

Analyse how aspects of their own and others lifestyle, behaviour, attitudes and beliefs can be culturally influenced (VCICCB009)

Geography

Influence of people, including the influence of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, on the environmental characteristics of Australian places (VCGGK094)

Personal and Social Capability

Describe what it means to be confident, adaptable and persistent and why these attributes are important in dealing with new or challenging situations (VCPSCSE027)

Evolving our Creative Practices and Ways of Working

In 2023 we rekindled our partnership with Spacecraft to install a custom-built screen-printing table in our Shepparton studio and provide training for six artists. This project saw the production of a beautiful, new range of 100% linen screen-printed tea-towels and other products featuring artworks and designs that proudly celebrate the diversity of art coming out of Kaiela Arts.

The ability to translate artworks into contemporary design through screen-printing has strongly resonated with Kaiela Arts’ artists and has created new platforms for cultural expression and storytelling. Our work in this space has also increased opportunities for our artists to work collectively building a positive and supportive culture of artistic experimentation, innovation, collaboration and critique.

As one of only two Aboriginal arts centres in Victoria, Kaiela Arts sits within the creative industries as a unique space for Yorta Yorta (and other mobs) to express culture, stories and history, through creativity.

Partnerships play a critical role in amplifying the impact of our work and one of our most significant creative relationships established over many years, is with Melbourne-based print and design studio Spacecraft.

Spacecraft is renowned for its innovative work in contemporary art, textile design, curated exhibitions and collaborations with artists, architects, institutions and selected brands.

Our collaborations with Spacecraft have seen production of fashion and homewares, and significant commissions for National Gallery Victoria, Monash University Museum of Art, RMIT, Shepparton Art Museum and the Munarra Centre for Regional Excellence.

Developing Our Creative Workforce

Continuing our work in the screen-printing space, we are seeking ways to build a skilled local creative workforce. This starts with building our artists’ capacity in design development for print, understandings of design transfer and materiality, and technical screen-printing and production skills.

In early 2024, Kaiela Arts artist and staff member Tarn Parker, spent two days at Spacecraft working on development of a new line of merchandise for our shop. She has loved the opportunity to evolve her own creative practice and learn new technical skills that will benefit herself and other artists.

Senior Yorta Yorta creative Lyn Thorpe has also recently undertaken a 2 day residency at Spacecraft to develop feature artworks for Kaiela Arts at the 2024 Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (DAAF). Lyn has created a series of large scale ‘Yorta Yorta Woka Cultural Medicine’ banners that represent a sense of pride for her people and our Aboriginal ways of knowing and being.