About this Project?

15 inspired young people from Blue Haven Youth Centre were designated the task of creating original and exciting temporary tattoos under the incredible tutelage of Jake Cassar.

2 days of workshops explored the malleability of the body and its convergence into art. The young people were instructed in the basic principles of linear drawing, and navigated its complimentary interaction with the body. The body art workshops were designed to encourage positive expressions of identity and develop healthy feelings of body image.

Contact email: artstartcc@hotmail.com

About this Project?

Fire Empire’s Dylan McFly and his trusty assistant Tom, brought the Big Top to several local schools.

The Students were given the opportunity to practise the amazing art of fire twirling with flagged staffs, tumbling and spinning the deadly sock poi! Perhaps in another lesson their twirling talents will go to the next level using actual fire - but health and safety, and my appreciation of the audiences’ hairstyles prevented it occurring at the Catwalk Event!

Contact email: artstartcc@hotmail.com

About this Project?
With the support of Sydney Theatre Company, 14 Young People were let loose on donated costumes and allowed complete artistic licence!!
This workshop encompassed a dynamic imaginations running free, the young people have explored textiles in creating these "wearable works of art". The artists had varying degrees of experience with sewing, ranging from new experimenters to natural sewers.

The result is an electric array of colour, contour, texture and contrast.

Contact email: artstartcc@hotmail.com

About this Project?

Initially inspired by the enthusiasm of the Young People of San Remo Neighbourhood Centre, this series of Workshops proved to be the most popular and, without doubt, successful!!

In total - numbers were capped to allow for more personal and productive tuition - 11 YP (9 male, 2 female) - trained exhaustively in preparation for their first gig, The 'Catwalk' Event @ The Youth Arts Warehouse.

The quality of the sets, monitored by the Workshop Leader and Professional DJ, Cindy O'Casey, were OUTSTANDING!!!! To the extent that a further DJ-ing Project is to be established at the Venue in the New Year! 

Contact email: artstartcc@hotmail.com

About this Project?

Wyong Creek, Jilliby and Dooralong Public Schools. November 2007 (co-ordinator: Elise Dunn).

 In order to encapsulate and express their World, the Young People of our Central Coast country region sought inspiration from working and living at one with the land. The Fisherman, the Tractor, the Pig and the Lake each exist in harmony and result in a collage of humour, endeavour and peace.

Breakthru and Life Without Barriers November 2007 (co-ordinator: Elise Dunn)

This is an overwhelming testimony to the artist’ anticipation and future dreams, manifested both independently and collectively. New Growth conveys the accomplishments of these young people furthering themselves and consequently our shared futures. Despite the apparent weakness of the central tree, a sense of hope is delivered to this landscape through the seedling community at its base. 

 Gravity Youth Centre October 2007 (co-ordinator: Elise Dunn)

The artists explore the modern identity of young people. The warrior-like nature of this self-portrait, K.J Battlefield, represents qualities of strength, fearlessness, courage, determination and perseverance. Working with recycled materials, this sculpture embodies physically the economic, social, environmental and spiritual tribulations that young people inherit as their future. It is an expression of their commitment to a better tomorrow.

Contact email: artstartcc@hotmail.com

About this Project?

Indigenous art connects principles of community, culture and creative expression.

 In these paintings, young people have experimented with this ancient technique and applied current perspectives to create truly beautiful designs.

Contact email: artstartcc@hotmail.com

About this Project?

Take the young people of Lake Haven’s Gravity Youth Centre, the skill and class of local artist Christine Burge, add a few beads, baubles, papier mache and wire pliers and you have the best of bling!

Contact email: artstartcc@hotmail.com

About this Project?

Gorokan High School October 2007 (co-ordinator: Luis Monteiro)

Wyong has a strong tradition in theatre. These masks were inspired by the students‘ studies in the birth of Drama, the Greek and Roman influences on performance and the Egyptian Death Masks, all, of course, with a splash of modern sensibilities and fun!

 Funded by Wyong Shire Council Cultural Grant 2007

Contact email: artstartcc@hotmail.com

About this Project?

Under the professional tutelage of DGM’s Christie Wilson, these young women were taught poise and management of a runway, as well as given the exciting opportunity to establish their own style and coordination of fashion from the recycled clothing stock of Lifeline.

An abject lesson in how to dress to impress on a budget!

Contact email: artstartcc@hotmail.com

About this Project?
These T-shirts are a celebration of youth perspectives. Wearable art provides a medium for youth to experiment with two dimensional art such as drawing and manipulate it into a three dimensional textile.

Images and words converge to become a subtle and original way to communicate opinion, feeling, attitude, hope and style.

The artists perspectives are advertised confidently reflecting the strength and growth of youth.


But what really made this Workshop so outstanding was that the YP of Response Art and Design - each with a variety of disabilities - were the amazing mentors and instructors to 6 able bodied YP from Wyoming YC. The Youth teaching the Youth...just as it should be!

Contact email: artstartcc@hotmail.com

About this Project?

“TOTEM FACES”

Gosford High School November 2007 (co-ordinator: Luis Monteiro)

In many cultures totemic carving conveys respect for the imagery captured. Facets of our identities are expressed through our facial expressions. These faces diversely depict emotions, thoughts, moods, experiences, etc and were constructed using traditional stone carving methods. The artists were restricted to using Hebel, mallets and chisels yet explore three dimensional complexities of human form.

Contact email: artstartcc@hotmail.com

About this Project?

Youth art skills and Stage Fighting tuition, at first sight, appear to be contradictory in nature. Perhaps even irresponsible.

 But the challenges Young People face today - be it bullying, aggression or a mounting frustration - need to be addressed in order to be managed. The students’ aim within this workshop is to master self-discipline, learn how to express violence in a safe and controlled environment.

 To take on the role of aggressor or victim - where each is empowered through direct eye contact, peripheral focus and trust - encourages greater awareness and empathy toward both protagonists. It can unearth suppressed emotions but the opportunity to both face and conquer these experiences, to rewrite the ending, is incredibly freeing for all involved.

 The elements of slick choreography, strict adherence to safety practise, team techniques, communication and subverting the inevitable adrenaline rush are vital skills for a Young Person to gain.

 The true test, however, is the performance in front of an audience. The confidence required to be capable of recreating the exact manoeuvre to the exact timing at the exact point of contact is incredible, and when the disciplined skills truly reveal themselves. To be successful and convincing, is to not get carried away.

 Stage Fighting addresses areas of our lives we might, perhaps, ordinarily prefer to skip over…but why be silent when there’s constructive closure to be had? That and a brilliant source of entertaining exercise!!

 Just ask the participants…and not a bruise amongst them!

Contact email: artstartcc@hotmail.com