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A retrospective on family dynamics through the use of traditional Maori art forms gave cause for thought at Linden School?s art expo last week. All students at the school had artwork on display, and a couple of the best pieces will be chosen to be framed and hung in the office foyer Student Phoenix William transformed a canvas into a representative portrayal of her family. ?My step-mum is a Marama (moon), and is close because she spends a lot of time with me. ?My dad and step dad are on either-side because they are courageous, strong and powerful. The smaller Raurus represent her brothers and sisters, as they are younger than her and have yet to unfurl and are caring. ?My mum is a Koru too, because she has lots to learn in life like me. ?The paintings are good because you can talk about them with your family and about what you can learn and do,? she says. Alongside the artwork older students wrote a passage explaining their pictures, why they choose the different characters and what the symbols represent. Unadmiring of sketches, Phoenix prefers to paint ?big pictures with lots of colour?. Linden School principal Christine Brown says she especially likes Phoenix?s picture because it showed a mixed family unit working well. ?The idea is great because it allows for discussion about things that might be hard to talk about for kids, and for parents. ?We have had some wonderful art work come out of these exhibitions and this year in no different,? says Mrs Brown. Jarrod Lewis and Josef McBride also painted vivid expressions of their family life. The schools best art works are sent to Art Frames LTD in Porirua, where Janice Morgan chooses one piece to be framed for free.
