From the Headmaster
Art washes away the dust of everyday life
There is a story about Pablo Picasso standing outside his house, looking around his yard. A rusty old bicycle resting against the porch caught his attention. Picasso focussed on the metal frame of the bike and noticed the handlebars resembled the horns of a bull. Removing the handlebars from the bike, he proceeded to his studio and created his famous sculpture of a charging bull.
Picasso tapped his creative imagination to turn the ordinary into something dramatic, something which has become famous; such is the beauty of the Arts and Design.
It was a privilege to attend the Art and Design exhibition last week after an absence of two years due to Covid restrictions. Witnessing boys proudly showing their work, explaining themes and techniques while demonstrating solutions to problems encountered expounded the value of promoting art and design in a boys’ school.
When work is exhibited, I love watching people stop for a moment, drawn in by an image or a creation. Such exhibits have the ability to stop the traffic in our life. Paintings, photos, graphic designs, the creation of something beautiful and imaginative somehow places the orderly chaos of daily life on hold.
Picasso said ‘art washes away the dust of everyday life.’ I firmly believe there is a connection between a still life and a busy life. You cannot have one without the other; art and creation provides that stillness.
Many of the exhibits on display, at first glance, looked straightforward. Behind the simplicity, for many of our boys, are hours of dedication and reflection. Each student had undertaken a journey which began with a spark of imagination and concluded with the magnificent work on display. Along the way, the boys developed skills as problem solvers, as collaborates and creative thinkers. They researched and planned meticulously, always adapting, as new ideas were formed. The development of such skills is flagged as a critical skill set for our evolving economy.
I congratulate all our designers and artists on their creative works. I thank our dedicated teachers for their support of the boys, instilling an appreciation of beauty and creativity in all its forms while nurturing the development of their artistic talent.
Planting a love of music
All recognise Beethoven as one of the greatest composers of all time and most know he was almost completely deaf when he wrote his 9th Symphony with its ‘Ode to Joy,’ regarded by many not only as his greatest works, but as one of the supreme achievements in the history of Western music.
What might be less known is that, on the occasion of the premiere of the piece, it appears Beethoven insisted on conducting. He shared the stage with the official conductor and while most of the orchestra took their cues from the conductor, Beethoven nonetheless entirely threw himself into the piece, turning the pages of the score and beating time for an orchestra he could not hear. Nor could he hear the rapturous applause from the audience at its conclusion until a young musician approached the maestro and turned him around to face his audience and to receive the ovation.
The story speaks of the relationship and the trust that exists between musicians and those they lead and teach. Marist is privileged to have over 25 staff and instrumental music teachers who so ably lead nearly 400 young musicians.
Our boys are able to respond when they are so capably led, when they are permitted to have faith and confidence in their capacity because of the adept leadership and tuition they receive.
This week I had the privilege of attending the final Year 12 music performance.
It proved a fitting acknowledgement of the contribution of our talented music staff, who by their efforts, have planted a love of playing music that will hopefully sustain our boys for years to come.
Matthew Hutchison
Headmaster
