Art for art’s sake

With the recent emphasis on global sport with the Olympic Games, the European Cup soccer and the Rugby Tri Nations Trophy all recently contested, it is timely to consider the other part of our all-round ethos at King’s College - the Arts. Having recently concluded ‘Arts Week’ at the College, it is worth noting some of the cultural successes and recent innovations which we have experienced.

I like the story about Pablo Picasso standing outside his house, looking around his yard. A rusty old bicycle resting against the porch caught his attention. Picasso focused on the metal frame of the bike and noticed the handlebars resembled the horns of a bull. Removing the handlebars from the bike, he proceeded to his studio and created his famous sculpture of a charging bull. Picasso tapped his creative imagination to turn the ordinary into something more dramatic and he became famous for being able to expand one theme to create another. Such is the beauty of the Arts.

The Arts are a fundamental part of any school, particularly in a high school where the student need for expression of emotion and feelings is most important. It was the American academic Kurt Seidel who stated,

“There is ample evidence that the Arts help students develop the attitudes, characteristics, and intellectual skills required to participate in today’s society and economy. The Arts teach self-discipline, reinforce self-esteem and foster the thinking skills and creativity so valued in the workplace. They teach the importance of teamwork and cooperation. They demonstrate the direct connection between study, hard work and high levels of achievement.”

These are values which are held in high regard at King’s College and explains our intention to see the Arts flourish here.

The highlight for the Music Department was the trip to Hawaii in the Term 1 holidays in which the Concert Band and the Orchestra won gold medals in the international competition held there. In Debating, we reached the final of the Auckland Secondary School Competition for the second year running, but this year we were runners-up to Rodney College. Senior Drama put on a challenging play within a play, entitled ‘Florence’, based on the life of Florence Nightingale; and Junior Drama had over 50 boys fully involved in the play entitled ‘Its Kinda Funny’. The Glee Club put on a wonderful version of ‘Oliver’ back in Term 1.

Support for the Arts at King’s College has been most welcome, particularly from Old Collegian James WALLACE (School 51-55), who has loaned the College part of his superb art collection for student viewing in the Centennial Centre. This has been greatly appreciated by the art students who study modern New Zealand artists as part of their senior studies and also for the benefit of all King’s students, who now study upstairs in much more creative surroundings.

	Headmasters together: Iain Campbell (Headmaster 1973-87) and his wife Anne dropped in to meet current Head Roy Kelley and look through our impressive new College Archives display.

In addition, the 1951 KCOCA group has formed an arts fund which has been used for a variety of purposes, including choir bursaries. The choir is now producing some excellent work as a result of the additional funding and support under the direction of choir teacher, Mrs Claire Caldwell. If you would like to be a part of funding of the Arts, you can do so by contacting me directly at the College.

Another exciting new development at the College has been the artist-in-residence programme. Last year we had the pleasure of Old Collegian and Elam School of Fine Arts graduate, Andrew BARNS-GRAHAM (School 80-84), for an extended period in which he worked with our students and also produced a painting which he donated to the College upon completion of his tenure. This year we have expanded the programme to include six professional artists working with our art students and we also had the pleasure of concert pianist, Matteo Napoli, who conducted a master class and recital for our music students. We hope to get Matteo back next year for an extended period to work within the College.

A suitable finale to our cultural programme for 2004 will take place with the inaugural Fine Art and Ceramics sale held in the College Gymnasium from November 12 to 14. It will commence with a cocktail party opening night and has been organised by the Friends of King’s College as their major fundraising event for this year. The proceeds of the art sale will go towards the Art Department and the enhancement of the ‘College Quads’ programme.

Roy Kelley