Tarnatharnanthi – A Celebration of Creativity, Culture and Community
Tarnatharnanthi – To Keep Rising: A Celebration of Creativity, Culture and Community
Our school foyer has been transformed into a vibrant multimedia showcase of student artwork as we proudly present Tarnatharnanthi , a whole school Visual Arts exhibition, created as part of the South Australian Living Artists (SALA) Festival. Celebrating the Kaurna concept Tarnatharnanthi – To Keep Rising, the exhibition inspires us to reflect on growth, resilience, creativity and community.
Featuring more than 400 artworks from students across the school, the exhibition highlights the incredible talent and imagination of our young artists. Visitors will discover a diverse range of media, including painting, drawing, ceramics, sculpture, printmaking, photography, digital art and design.
Each artwork offers a unique interpretation of the theme Tarnatharnanthi. Some students explored the natural world through images of flowers emerging from the earth, soaring birds and rising suns, while others responded more personally, reflecting on perseverance, hope, identity, friendship and the ways we support one another through life’s challenges.
A particularly special feature of this year’s exhibition is the contribution of students who created works independently, outside of regular class time. Thirty-nine artworks were produced through this voluntary commitment, demonstrating the passion, dedication and creativity that thrive within our school community.
This exhibition is also a wonderful example of collaboration. From our youngest playgroup artists to the senior student SALA Crew, who assisted with exhibition branding, framing, labelling and installation, students have played a central role in bringing this ambitious project to life. Their enthusiasm and teamwork have helped create something truly special. We are also deeply grateful to our dedicated Visual Arts teachers and support staff, whose expertise, encouragement and countless hours of work behind the scenes have helped nurture students’ creativity and bring this exhibition to fruition.
Most of all, the exhibition is a celebration of our students: their creativity, their courage to take artistic risks, and their willingness to share their ideas and perspectives with others. We are immensely proud of every student whose work is displayed.
We invite families and community members to visit the exhibition over the coming weeks, enjoy the remarkable artworks on display, and celebrate with us what it means to keep rising. The exhibition will remain in the school foyer for the next month, from 10 August- 8 September 2026.
Ms Michelle Barratt
Visual Arts Coordinator | Study Tours Coordinator
Student Reflections
“Creating artwork for a public exhibition made me feel motivated to work at my highest ability and to incorporate the theme’s culture. It inspired me to think beyond my own perspective and consider how others would experience my work.” Alexis, Year 7.
“My artwork for the SALA Exhibition was created as part of my Year 8 Art class. I decided to participate in this exhibition because I saw it as an opportunity to share my art style with others, and to have my artwork displayed publicly for others to enjoy and hopefully connect and relate to.” Cielo, Year 8.
“Creating artwork for a public exhibition made me feel proud to create an artwork that would be displayed and it challenged me to take more time and think deeper about the concept.” Joy, Year 9.
“Being part of the SALA art exhibition was meaningful because it let me support the creative energy of younger students and watch their confidence grow. Helping set up the space not only connected me with the artwork and the community but also gave me valuable insight into how exhibitions are created, which will support my own artwork. It was rewarding to guide others and see how our teamwork transformed ideas into something people could experience.” Cheyanne Sulaimany Year 12 Part of the SALA Crew
