Gathering of the Finches | A Budding Generation, Granville East Public School

The story behind this mural shows a flurry of finches, the endangered Black Throated Finch, the Gouldian finch and the Diamond Firetail finch that congregate in abundance at their favourite watering hole. The scene is inspired by the idea of gathering (an extension of togetherness and belonging) and what an ideal, prosperous and healthy environment and home could look like for them, mainly a haven.

I wanted to express this scene for so many reason, to celebrate a diversity of the different kinds of finch types symbolic of the diverse ethnic and cultural background of the kids at Granville East Public School (GEPS) and also, to paint a figure that is much like children in their primary years in its own way, impressionable, pure yet fragile and something to nurture.

Among the questions at a workshop that aided the design of the mural, we asked what warms the heart? And if one could change the world, how would they change it? The parallel theme 'A Budding Generation' shows an imaginary world made up of a selection of subject matter that came from the workshop responses. The act of giving, the need to care for our natural world, hot air balloons, a fondness of sunsets, canoes and an appreciation for the land we live on were among some of the answers. The bloom of the Waratah, Blue-gum, Wattle and Banksia are also natives that represent the house colours of GEPS.