New 40m art mural to be unveiled at Warranwood Primary School

A MASSIVE art piece adorning the walls at Warranwood Primary School is about to be unveiled.

Warranwood Primary students with the school’s new mural. Photo: Daniel Pockett

A HUGE art piece stretching nearly 40m along the walls of Warranwood Primary School is being officially unveiled this week.

The River of Voices Project has been five months in the making and focuses on local history, stretching back to aboriginal beginnings and European settlement, through to urbanisation, modern times and the future.

Students have played a major role in creating the mural alongside Melbourne-based artist-in-residence Rob Scholten.

Visual arts teacher Jeenah Metcalfe said the school’s transformation was impossible to ignore.

“Before it was just brown brick everywhere. Now it’s a sea of colour,” she said.

“The students have done a brilliant job.”

Warranwood Primary School’s new mural stretches almost 40m. Photo: Daniel Pockett

Among the characteristics featured on the walls are aboriginal hunting practices, the local general store, sports, toys and flying cars.

Ms Metcalfe said the school’s intention was to help students understand their own community.

“We had people come in and share their stories; people who grew up in the area and others who started a business or work here,” she said.

“One of our goals was for the kids to get a better understanding of where they live and a greater sense of community so they can go on and be more involved with their local area.

“It was a project as much about (community) relationships as it was about history and geography.”

The project was supported with a $10,000 grant from Creative Learning Partnerships Victoria.

The school is hosting an unveiling on Thursday, 5-7pm, with a traditional smoking ceremony and school gathering.

Artist-in-residence Rob Scholten helped Warranwood Primary School teacher Jeenah Metcalfe (right) and students with their new mural. Photo: Daniel Pockett