Art & Photography Camp

Bundanon is a unique arts centre located near Nowra. It was the home of the painter Arthur Boyd who gifted it to the Australian government in 1993 along with an extensive collection of artworks.

In 2022 a new modern art gallery, rising from the ashes of the Black Summer bushfires, opened its doors. Our Year 10 – 11 art students were one of the first groups to take part in the revitalised learning program in February.

Following are just a few of the eloquent observations from some of the students who attended the excursion:

“To the breath-taking Bundy. Your lavish green trees, the wobbly wombats and the bouncy kangaroos. We love you. To the gorgeous sight of sunrise when you first wake up, with its blend of pinks and oranges, to the sandstone homestead that helped build a legacy. We love you. From the expressive strokes we each took, to the warm smiles of all the staff, we thank you. Bundanon, the best place, ever!”

“Bundanon is a vision of Australia’s past, present and future. It is impossible not to be inspired to create in this environment. The views and sunsets from the hall are stunning as we overlooked the Shoalhaven River and trees. The view too, from our cabins, was exceptional. On one occasion we even saw a kangaroo two meters from the window and while writing this, students are looking at a wombat. For some, looking at the wombats up close was one of their favourite activities. There were also many birds and occasionally reptiles sidled past, including large goannas and smaller lizards.”

“When creating our own artworks, we loved the new experiences of using natural items from the bush such as sticks to make marks and create texture and tone in our drawings. Using these unconventional materials helped us create a connection with the gorgeous environment around us and appreciate the natural world of Bundanon. Our wonderful guides did an amazing job teaching us about the environment and about art. “

“We used a variety of media, including ink, charcoal and acrylic paint. On the second day, we went up the hill to draw the landscape using charcoal. We explored shape, shadows and negative space by toning the whole page black, to begin with using willow charcoal. Then, using kneadable erasers and rubbers we sketched the environment in front of us, adding detail by reintroducing black tones and texture.”

“The Bundanon Art Camp has taught us various ways to combine emotions, thoughts and the representations of the environment into artworks that echo both historical and contemporary ways of living. By being immersed in the natural environment we were able to reflect on these beautiful moments through our artmaking and become so immersed in artmaking that we would forget time completely.”

“The Bundanon Museum exhibition theme ‘From Impulse to Action’ was interesting and one that we incorporated into our own artmaking. It was very cool to have the art gallery to ourselves for our tour, and it made the experience so much more special. It was inspiring walking through the gallery and seeing the work of Australian artists who were connected to Bundanon and Arthur Boyd’s work. A wide array of artmaking forms was evident in this exhibition.”

“Overall, our experience at Bundanon taught us so much, from admiring and appreciating art made by Arthur Boyd and other contemporary artists to creating art ourselves. It has given us a deeper understanding. We loved the relaxing feel of this camp along with the amazing location. To wake in the morning when the sun rises, to be out in the fresh air and return to the wonderful view as the sun sets were so special. Thanks to the inspiring teachers we were able to experiment with new artmaking styles and learn about new artists. We will take this understanding and apply it to future projects and artworks.”