School motto resonates with mural artist
The artist responsible for the new mural at Woy Woy South Public School says the school motto resonates with her.
"The school focuses on Respect and Responsibility like most public schools but has chosen Relationships as its third core value," said Ms Angela Clark.
"I really subscribe to this choice and have celebrated and translated it in more kid-friendly terms in this mural to remind them how they may employ these values each day."
Respect becomes kind words.
Responsibility becomes helping hands.
Relationships becomes happy hearts.
"They're each very dependent on the other," she said.
"My hope is that this colourful piece becomes a passive teaching tool and trigger for playground conversations around positive school culture.
"And that it just brightens their day."
Ms Clark said that happy hearts were important for everyone.
"Happy hearts - That's all we really want for our children (and ourselves), right?
"If your heart is happy, everything is in place in your world regardless of what that looks like.
"You could have everything or nothing as long as your basic needs are met, and your heart can still be happy because it's a mindset.
"Knowing what makes your heart happy is the thing.
"For me, it is lots of little things, which may be insignificant to the next person, and relationships.
"Having people in your life that you truly relate to is the biggest signifier of positive emotional health.
"This can make or break a heart."
Ms Clark said eyes featured in her mural because "I'm an eye-person".
"I love them.
"I love to draw them, paint them, look into them.
"Sometimes the colour can be so magnetic to me.
"But what really gets me is when someone looks as deeply into mine, not necessarily in a romantic sense, but in an 'I see you' sense.
"Culturally we aren't too comfortable with an extended gaze.
"It can be awkward I know, because it's a vulnerable place to enter, 'seeing' someone and perhaps opening a window for them to see you too?
"But when those moments happen, even without a word spoken, so much more can be exchanged.
"That non verbal communication is much more powerful and disarming in the context of almost any relationship - friends, family, lovers.
"That opportunity to connect and see each other is something I have come to give greater attention and value.
"Truly a window to the soul, if you take the time to look with your heart you can see light, joy, maybe pain, grief, pride, fear...and perhaps appreciate what is going on inside a little better (which is all anyone could ever ask).
"And how wonderful is it when you recognise kindness, and the look of love in someone else's eyes for you.
"There is no greater affirmation."
SOURCE:
Social media, 1 Apr 2021
Angela Clark, Norah Head