Letting Go: Community Art Project

St Francis Xavier Primary School, Ballina, participated in an engaging and innovative community art project during Learning from Home. (23 August 2021)

The Visual Art Learning Enhancement students from St Francis Xavier Primary School, Ballina, led an innovative and exciting project during Terms 2 and 3. Students were directed by Brisbane based installation artist and community practitioner Amelia Kalifa.

With Amelia’s direction, students developed an interesting and engaging experience that would involve the whole school community. The project that the student decided to facilitate was ‘Letting Go’. Students, parents and staff each designed a boat made out of natural materials that would carry each participant’s fears and hopes for the future. This was not an easy task as participants were asked not to use any glue, paper, or string so that the boat would not be a risk to animals or the environment.  

Everyone was eager to be involved with the project, launching over 400 boats, sending videos or images of them launching their boat and pin the launch site’s location on an interactive map. Year 4 teacher Bronte Doolan said, ‘my greatest fear is the unknown, and my hope is that I learn to embrace change.’ ‘My biggest fear is not being able to fall asleep; I hope listening to calming stories will help,’ Lilla Year 2. Zali in Year 5 said, ‘my fear is losing a family member, and my hope is that everyone lives life to the fullest.’

The project provided an interactive and positive opportunity for the school community to connect during Learning from Home. St Francis Xavier has put together a display of this project which can be found here Letting Go website. To find out more about Amelia Kalifa visit www.ameliakalifa.com.