Chatham High School year seven curriculum extension (CHACE) students have created portraits of residents at Bushland Place and Karingal Gardens in an effort to develop an awareness and understanding of the diversity within our community.

The program, known as Making Positive Change, saw students partner with a resident once a week to share stories and establish connections before creating an expressive portrait using oil pastels.

Teacher Michelle Pellew said the students enjoyed connecting with, interviewing and learning about each resident.

“The kids were nervous at first,” Michelle said.

“Once they got to know the person they became more confident.”

Students, their parents, residents and their families attended the opening exhibition of the portraits with Manning Regional Art Gallery’s Rachel Piercy.

Accompanied by morning tea, students played a guessing game with the residents to identify each person’s portrait.

Michelle said the residents treasured the time spent with the students and appreciated the portraits.

“Some of the residents would go down every morning to look at them,” Michelle said.

In the school holidays, the portraits were displayed at the art gallery. 

The exhibition closed last Sunday, November 4.

““It was a great response from the public,” Michelle said.

The portraits were later gifted to the residents.

Michelle said the school will look to run the program next year. 

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