April 5, 2024
A dozen girls – all students at the Silver Lining school at Ficks Crossing – have created stunning floral arm pieces and crowns thanks to a unique arts program run in the South Burnett.
Designer and creator Felicity Aitken, from Moffatdale, encouraged the students to tell a story through design during the “Connection Through Creativity And Colour” course.
The girls worked on their pieces, made from dried flowers, during sessions held on Wednesdays for five weeks.
The resulting works were on display at Dimities Cottage Cafe in Wondai over Easter, and will now go to the YAG shop at Bert Button Lookout in Cherbourg.
Felicity said the girls were encouraged to explore different colours, and what they meant to them.
They came up with themes for their creations which were written on the pieces, eg. “happiness and family”.
Another wrote: “It reminds me of the bush, and the bush represents safety”.
Silver Lining principal Jo Campbell said there were eight students at the school when she joined in 2021; there were now 42 … 29 boys and 13 girls.
The students do regular schoolwork but also take part in special programs to encourage community engagement.
The “Connection Through Creativity” course was worked into the young women’s program at the school.
Cherbourg Elders visited Dimities last week to take a look at the girls’ creations.
They seemed very impressed as they modelled them for the camera.
The workshops were funded by the Regional Arts Development Fund.
Felicity will also be holding more workshops to make headpieces at the Wondai Garden Expo on April 20-21.
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Some of the results of the workshops, modelled at Dimities last week:
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[Photos by Felicity Aitken]
