Art Staff Profiles: Belinda Lloyd and Paris Pola

The Art department at MGGS has grown and developed swiftly in recent times, keeping up with the advancements in technology and the different media available to us, to create learning opportunities and experiences that meet the demands of today’s learners. Our different Art subjects provide an environment in which our Grammarians’ imaginations are constantly challenged and they are encouraged to use their self-expression and channel the skills they learn in their different areas of study.  

Recently, we caught up with Art teachers Belinda Lloyd and Paris Pola to hear about their experiences in art and some of the interesting things that have been happening in the Art department at MGGS in 2023.  

Ever since she was young, Belinda has had "a deep love for art." Her first love was drawing, where she "could spend hours lost in her own ideas and designs." In time, and through discovering new ways to express herself, her passion has expanded to painting, photography and interior design.

“Whether it's capturing the beauty of nature on canvas or creating a beautifully designed space in the home, art and design has always been a part of who I am.”

Belinda has been teaching art at MGGS since 2010, after beginning as a student teacher here before that. Belinda loves sharing her expertise with aspiring creatives as it allows her to continue to grow and learn herself. Belinda studied Interior Design at RMIT University, then moved on to a Contemporary Fine Arts Course at Deakin University. She finished her studies with a Diploma of Education at Monash University. She has held various roles in her time; roles that have allowed her to contribute to different areas of the School and to work with a range of students. Belinda runs the Middle Years Art Club and is also responsible for the exhibition spaces around the School, which display our students’ artwork. Curating these displays is a particular highlight as they allow students and staff to see the talent we have within the School community and foster pride and recognition for the students who contribute work.

Paris is a photographer and teacher by trade who joined MGGS in 2022. The son of two artists (and teachers), Paris grew up in a family where art and culture were highly valued and he was constantly exposed to the possibilities and wonders that art offers. When he was gifted a camera for his birthday as a teenager, he knew he wanted to explore a career in photography, which he actively pursued during high school. Paris went on to study photography at RMIT University, which not only taught him much of what he knows about the craft, but also about the way we interact with art, design and media and why it is important. He then did a Master of Teaching at the Australian Catholic University.  

Paris has taught a variety of subjects during his short time at MGGS so far, including Visual Communication Design (VCD), Media, and Photography. Something that Paris is really passionate about is facilitating engaging excursions or incursions that complement the content of classroom lessons by providing opportunities to see and experience beautiful works of art or provide insight into the practices of working creatives through talks and presentations. Recently, he organised for architects Amber Stewart and Beth Solomon from ARM Architecture to visit his Year 10 and 11 VCD students who were exploring architectural design. Nadia and Beth spoke about architecture and design as a career path and touched on the work they have recently undertaken with MGGS to develop preliminary concepts for some exciting new spaces for learning at our School. They also answered the students’ questions about what it was like to build a career in a creative but historically male dominated industry.  

Our Grammarians have a great "desire for knowledge and skill building", Paris says, which is "truly inspiring" to nurture as a teacher. The Art department is always working to ensure all students have the equipment, guidance and support to explore which areas, media or subjects interest them most. The department consists of a team of highly skilled teachers and technicians with differing skill sets that enables valuable collaboration between staff and with students too.  

Colleagues Sheryle Allen, Elaine Goodridge, Lorie McLaughlin (Morris Hall), Stephanie Pavlou, Matthew Perkins, Bridie Scarce and Danni Yang make up the Art department and benefit from the support provided by art technician, Racheal Hooper.

The Middle Years curriculum has been designed by this team to build a strong foundation of aesthetic appreciation, technical skill and an artistic vocabulary - visual and verbal - that gives voice to ideas and art practice unpacked in the Senior Years. According to Belinda, engagement with art during the Middle Years nurtures holistic development and equips students with essential skills that extend beyond the creative sphere. Engaging with art at a young age allows students to explore their creativity and experiment with different styles. Art practice plays a significant role in fostering collaboration, communication awareness and sensitivity among peers, as well as developing resilience and learning to value diverse perspectives and constructive feedback.  

"In recent years we have broadened our Middle Years Arts electives to include a wider range of local, national, and international contemporary artists," said Belinda. They build and hone the requisite skills for our VCE Art studies, which include Art Making & Exhibiting, Art Creative Practice, Visual Communication Design and Media at MGGS. Each of these subjects focuses on a different area of artistic practice.

In Units 1 and 2 of VCE Media, Year 11 students have been working on short narrative films, combining their photography skills with a range of equipment in our studios to produce high-quality short films. One of Paris’s favourite things about teaching Art is that it is not typically outcome-focused. Art at MGGS allows students to explore and express their creativity, emotions and thoughts in ways that words or language cannot. It is not necessarily about creating finished and final artworks or replicating the styles of other artists, "or even attempting to create something that is considered 'good'."  

Belinda also grasps opportunities to continue her own learning to ensure "that the artist within [her] will never fade away." One such opportunity presented itself earlier this year, when she accompanied Year 9 students on their visit to the Pierre Bonnard Exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria. The workshop involved interactive activities designed to stimulate critical thinking skills and foster creative expression through guided discussion and hands-on exercises. Renowned artist Vipoo Sravaikas also visited MGGS to work with Middle Years students in Term 4. Belinda said Vipoo utlised his expertise to guide students in exploring their artistic potential by encouraging 'open dialogue, enabling students to express their thoughts, ideas and visions freely.' As a leader in the field of ceramics, Vipoo imparted valuable knowledge while working with Middle Years students to generate innovative ideas to be incorporated into a collective installation artwork bound for Melbourne's Docklands.

Belinda and Paris thoroughly enjoyed the MGGS Art Exhibition this year. They were delighted by the depth of talent and individual ideas on display and the unique stories and triumphs told through the different artworks. Paris reflected that "there was something for everyone to marvel at."

“The exhibition served not only as a testament to [our students’] talent but also as a firm reminder of the importance of providing platforms for young artists to flourish.”

Belinda’s favourite part of teaching Art at MGGS is witnessing the limitless creativity of her students’ minds at work and watching their skills develop over time. "Each day in the classroom brings … new ideas … new perspectives and new growth. There is never a dull moment!"

In the spirit of sharing their artistic passion, we asked Belinda and Paris which exhibitions or galleries they had visited recently and enjoyed. For Belinda the Bonnard Exhibition at the NGV left a lasting impression and for Paris, James Tylor’s ‘Turrangka … in the Shadows’ at the Centre for Contemporary Photography.

Designing Perspectives: Morris Hall's Artistic Exploration through the 2023 Artist-In-Residence Program

How do we use design in our lives? What do we really mean by three dimensions? And how do different shapes and sizes make us feel?

These were some of the questions posed to Morris Hall students as we embarked on a special two-week artist-in-residence initiative with interior designer Amanda Thomas from Thomas Vogler designs. Amanda visited the Art classes of Prep and Years 1 to 4, working with the girls to develop a practical, firsthand understanding of three-dimensional form and design. She also explained how designers and artists can work in many different industries. After exploring the use of shape, scale and composition with Amanda, the students were tasked with creating something of their own, starting with apiece of wire and fabric.

Initially, the students had to consider and plan the shape, colour and texture of their design. The students shared ideas with their peers about the expressive choices for their three-dimensional pieces in the planning phase, in addition to how the individual designs would work together once combined. During construction, the selection of materials and the use of transparency, layering and repetition became more of a focus. Many discussions took place about the choice of materials and how they can influence the meaning of the artwork.

Finally, after two weeks working closely with Amanda creating their individual piece, the students started to explore the presentation, composition and cohesion of a final collaborative installation piece.  

The students have enjoyed witnessing the coming together of the collaborative piece, often stopping as they walk by to find their own floral designs on the wall. The strong sense of pride is obvious as they remind one another not to touch their beautiful installation!