What a fantastic display of original art works by a collection of talented art students. Sophisticated photographs, intricate textile constructions, clever graphics, flawless wood craft and some of the finest paintings one could hope to see presented in one venue. And to think the producers are in secondary school!

It's always exciting to see art works that spring from a creative mind and are formed by skilled hands. The age of the creator, number of years practising or purpose for producing the work is not as important as the level of appreciation the object will illicit from the discerning viewer. More then a few of the exhibits here are no less then excellent in form and content and provide highly rewarding viewing.

For example Jessie Mitchell's Autumn Geisha is the most fascinating kimono to be seen anywhere. Composed of printed and embroidered fabrics, folded paper, dried leaves, strips of film, collage and stitching, it has all the elegance and opulence one would expect from a more conventional equivalent. Another fine example of sculptured textile is Adam Deville's Decrepit which consists of two small stick-like figures of the macabre. Each is well considered and constructed out of the most flimsy material yet has a presence. In both Mitchell and Deville's exhibits it is the attention to detail that makes visual inspection very satisfying.

There are quite a few interesting paintings with imagery that draws the viewer in then rewards them with a fine use of the medium.  Adam Smith's large blue and white painting Carmina Burana is faultless. Despite the large format, scale relationships remain true and there is no dissipation of the strong emotion projected. With no hint from the title, the collage of sheet music leads us to interpret the portrait as one of a pianist amazed by the talent in his own hands. Bravo! Also appreciated is Stephanie Penn's painting Concrete and Light, a well presented example of turning a mundane subject into a fine composition with interest in design, texture and tonal play, those building blocks of all good paintings.

Glad to see photography minus digital manipulation is still considered an artform. To have an 'eye' is the primary ingredient for any artistic presentation and the camera is a valid extension to that organ. Joline Roberts certainly has an eye for how ordinary shapes and shadows can be interpreted differently, even  mysteriously, by each viewer. Her sepia toned triptych Imprisoned Society suggests a sense of something ominous yet there is nothing overtly frightening in the subjects. A well composed and presented exhibit.

Congratulations must be extended to all the participating students, their teachers and the schools involved, and to the Department of Education in association with Central TAFE Art Gallery for putting on such a splendid display. One hopes the best of these students will not lose what they already own should they pursue their art education in a tertiary institution. By all means explore theories and new concepts during the evolution of your art but please don't let go of your primary skills or your ability to make honest, fine objects of art like the examples seen here.