Lobethal Primary School
Lobethal Primary School is located in the Hills / Murraylands region of South Australia with an enrolment of 100 students.
The student body includes students from the following cultural and linguistic groups – predominately European Australian heritage and 15% new arrival Vietnamese students.
Lobethal Primary School is a Category 3 school.
PROJECT COORDINATOR: Jill Mundy
ARTIST: Bev Bills
PROJECT: ‘Threads of Time’ – a weaving/textile/history project
Aims:
- For students and teachers to understand the basics of weaving and spinning, highlighting the links to the history of Lobethal community;
- For students to gain an understanding of tapestry weaving on a small frame loom;
- To link with local weavers within a community tapestry project, in conjunction with the Adelaide Hills Council; and
- To expand the awareness of woven cloth and the industry.
The Artist:
Bev has significant experience in community-based projects. She encourages people in a community to discover their own abilities and further these skills gaining awareness through their achievements. Bev is a practising artist working in the fields of weaving and other related textile arts. She also has experience in printmaking, book-binding, felt making and spinning through both workshops and tuition. Bev has worked with Gallery M (Marion), Migration Museum and Central Northern Health Services to mention a few.
The Process:
- Project brief negotiated.
- Times and working space timetabled.
- Students introduced to project through classroom, individual/small group and play time sessions (Bev started out by sitting in the yard, loom in operation, which generated huge interest).
- Specific aspects of the project negotiated for each class, from cardboard weaving, tom boy stitch to loom weaving.
- Completed works displayed around school and community.
Outcomes:
- Wonderful range of products have been produced to a very high standard.
- Students have engaged in the connections between this project and this history of Onkaparinga Woollen Mill.
- All students have produced a piece of either weaving, stitch or tapestry.
- Ongoing connections to Tapestry will occur through Lobethal Tapestry project.
From the artist:
The teachers were able, with creative thinking to link the activities in with curriculum to provide positive outcomes. One class linked woven frames into geometric shapes and others linked with technology, arts and maths.
ESL students learnt new words and skills relating to their current environment in the community and new school. They took home to their families newly learned knowledge of Lobethal.
Highlights:
A beautiful range of products from small patches, to scarf-size pieces to throw rugs.
‘I enjoyed using the weaving machine… Bev should come back and teach us again.’ Students
‘The students embraced the process taking their creations home with stories emerging… the students were eager to learn… the staff supported the process and also learned new skills.’ Artist
‘This artist residency has provided me with many ideas for future school projects – methods, what to expect, levels of skill, timing aspects and the enthusiasm of children.’ Artist
100 students participated in this project
