Every year, our Year 12 Art and Design Technology students head to Hobart and the wondrous place that is MONA—the Museum of Old and New Art. Each year our students return inspired and ready to tackle their HSC bodies of work with renewed vigour.
Here, student Rose Mather reflects on her class’ weekend at MONA and the joys it offered. Trips such as this are evidence of Ascham’s unique Dalton Plan in action.
‘Last weekend, Year 12 Visual Arts students headed down to the Museum of Old and New Art in Hobart, Tasmania. It was nothing like I could describe in words, the unorthodox design, paired with the bold and innovative works challenged myself and everyone around me. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and allowed for us as young aspiring artists to be inspired and challenged, and I would go every weekend if I could. It was entirely immersive, with the Dalton system being observed firsthand as we were given absolute freedom to complete our assessment task—a critical response essay—and allowed us to grow as students and young artists.
The engagement of the teachers in our learning and the encouragement of our passions fuelled us to continue to explore and investigate this wonderful museum. I have been moved and changed by the love for art and learning that I saw within my teachers, peers, and within the museum itself. From stopping for a coffee at the ‘void bar’ to sitting in the ladies’ room, surrounded by butlers blindfolded and playing saxophones, there was nothing that I could expect within MONA, and perhaps that is what makes it one of the most unique and significant places within Australia’s art world.
I just wanted to express my gratitude and that of the whole cohort towards Dr Watson, Ms Peters, Ms Jones and Mr Morabito, for devoting their time to this experience—it was absolutely life changing.’
