Art in pole position

MARRIOTT Waters was a hive of activity as children descended on its wetlands as part of an environmental education and art program.
About 30 students from St Therese’s Primary School interpreted what they had learnt about the significance of the environment onto 11 totem poles installed around Marriott Water’s wetlands.
In the unique program children visited Cranbourne Royal Botanic Gardens and the Marriott Waters wetlands for their environmental education.
They then took what they had learned in the school’s art room to convert what they had learnt into pictures and artworks which they then painted on the poles.
Villawood Properties executive director Tony Johnson said the project was designed to encourage children to not only learn about the environment, but also to experience it and then interpret it in a creative way.
“The painted totem poles will stand as a wonderful tribute to their learning and a reminder to each of them, whenever they see them, of their role and place in the environment,” Mr Johnson said.
St Therese’s Primary School principal Mark Linden said the project had made a fundamental and positive impact on the children.
“They have gained knowledge on the importance of protecting our environment, have had hands on experience with it and have produced significant works that they are proud of,” he said.