Paint, performance and plenty of young imagination will take over Wyrallah Road Public School next Tuesday when every student gets a place on the gallery wall.

The East Lismore school’s Art Matters exhibition will showcase individual and collaborative works from across the school, with students exploring everything from personal expression to culture and connection to Country.
A special part of the exhibition has been created by Aboriginal students working with respected Yaegl and Widjabul Wiabal artist Oral Laurie, using art and storytelling to explore local Aboriginal culture and connection to Country.
Principal Gareth Hockings said art gave children another way to communicate ideas and experiences.
‘Art gives every child a voice,’ Mr Hockings said.
‘It allows them to communicate ideas, emotions, and stories that words sometimes cannot.’
Each class has also created a large-scale collaborative artwork, with the pieces to be auctioned during the evening to raise money for future learning resources and creative opportunities at the school.
There will also be student art competitions, live dance and music performances, refreshments and involvement from local businesses.
Mr Hockings said the exhibition had become one of the school’s most anticipated community events.
‘Every artwork tells a story, and together they demonstrate that when young people are given the opportunity to create, they can inspire us all,’ he said.
Art Matters will be held at Wyrallah Road Public School, 152 Nielson Street, East Lismore, from 4pm on Tuesday, September 22.
Entry is by gold coin donation, with the wider community invited to attend.


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