As part of the Sesquicentenary Celebrations, a unique community art show was developed to allow artists of all ages and abilities to express themselves on the theme of 'Our School, Our Story'. The art show was launched at the 'Back To' Day on Saturday 2 May.

Inspired by the Incognito Art Show model, all artworks are displayed anonymously, giving emerging and established artists the chance to exhibit side‑by‑side. The identity of each artist will be revealed only at the end of the show on 25 May, adding a sense of discovery and delight for buyers.

The artworks are for sale with all proceeds supporting Mercy Works. Contact the College on 5445  9100 to purchase a piece for $40 each +ph. The remaining artworks will be available for sale at the Performance Gala on Friday May, after which time, the show will conclude.

Thank you to all the artists exhibiting in our Jubilee Art Show. Your generosity and creative contributions are warmly appreciated. Thank you to our generous volunteers for assistance with organising and hanging the exhibition. Thank you to Atelier Art Supplies for kindly donating the canvas boards for the Jubilee Community Art Show.

Artwork 1 - SOLD

Convent Light
Digital Print on Cotton Rag

This work is a quiet return to my years at St Mary’s College Bendigo (1976–1982), a place that left a lasting imprint on how I see beauty, ritual, and memory.

My recollections are not loud or literal—they come back in fragments. The scent of incense drifting from the chapel. The hush of cool corridors in the old convent. Hidden doorways and narrow passages where time seemed to stand still. The presence of the “old nuns,” moving softly through shadowed spaces, part of the architecture as much as the building itself. There was mystery there, and a kind of reverence that settled into you without explanation.

This piece draws on that atmosphere.

The face, partially obscured and softened, echoes the religious iconography that surrounded me as a child—the saints, the statues, the paintings lit by candlelight. There was always a melancholy to them. Not sadness exactly, but a quiet knowing. A stillness. That feeling has stayed with me and continues to shape my work.

The botanicals layered across the image speak to the gardens of St Mary’s—the heat of long summer days, the sense of escape, and the contrast between the structured rituals of the school and the wildness just beyond it. Nature and devotion existing side by side.

What I am exploring here is memory as something imperfect and dreamlike. Not a clear narrative, but a layering of sensation—scent, light, shadow, feeling. The past softened at the edges, yet deeply present.
St Mary’s was, for me, a place of beauty, ritual, and imagination. This work is not a literal depiction of it, but rather the lingering impression it left behind—the sacred and the mysterious, held together in quiet reflection.

Artwork 2

Symbols of Catherine
Acrylic on canvas

For my piece, I chose to represent the legacy of Catherine McAuley through a trio of iconic symbols associated with our foundress: the Mercy Cross, the yellow McAuley rose, and a teacup. The Mercy Cross is an immediately recognisable symbol that is displayed throughout our College and is a reminder for our community of our Mercy charism and the origins of school traditions. Next, your eyes are drawn to the centre piece – the McAuley rose, named for Catherine, which we have flowering in the front garden of our St Mary’s campus. Finally, the third symbol is a teacup, commonly associated with the Mercy value of ‘hospitality’ and Catherine’s love of a cup of tea.

Artwork 3

The human nature of Jesus
Gouache on canvas board

This gouache portrait explores the unique nature of Jesus, balancing the sacred and his humanity. During my time at school, I learnt more about the values of Jesus that inspire mercy, grace, compassion, justice, humility and service to others. These lived values of Jesus continue to inspire people to emulate these positive characteristics in the way they interact with others.

My motivation comes from attempting to convey traditional religious imagery balanced with Jesus' humanity and is influenced by classical portraiture. I hoped to create a reflective image for the viewer, encouraging contemplation of both the divine and the human nature of Jesus, inviting them to consider empathy and shared humanity beyond religious boundaries.

Artwork 4 - SOLD

The St Mary’s Chapel
Watercolour and charcoal

St Mary’s Chapel is a sacred place. It holds so much history for the College and invokes a spiritual experience. I often think of the Sisters in the space and the moments of reflection they would have had and communicating with God. I feel their presence when I am in the Chapel. I feel Mercy.

Artwork 5 - SOLD

The Building Blocks of Passion

The countdown of deadlines, the endless cups of coffee and never-ending post it notes, now a fond memory. The motivation behind this artwork is a recollection of being in the Art Building at the senior campus, in Years 11 and 12. I spent lots of time up there and I have so many memories of community, encouragement and creative exploration. This time in the Art Building encouraged a passion for painting that I cherish. The artwork builds off a clutter of objects from the art room and is meant to depict a state of frenzy and creativity that powered me through my VCE studies and helped me shape my identity as an artist.

Artwork 6

Unseen
Oil on canvas board

The artwork explores the constant thoughts between external appearance and internal reality. The head of the fish appears whole and alert, symbolising the way people often mask their true feelings. In contrast, the hollow skeletal body reflects inner emptiness and vulnerability, suggesting that beneath a composed exterior, there can be unseen struggles.

The inspiration behind the work comes from the idea of hiding emotions, disguising how people often display their true emotions. Frequently presenting themselves as strong and okay on the outside, while internally they feel hollow, vanquished or not complete. like they're missing a part of themselves.

During the creation of this piece, I explored the techniques of fat over lean, with the head and the tail piece using each layer of paint with more oil than solvent. Sfumato, using the smoky lines to give the effect of gradations between tones and colours, this is used in the bones, head and background to simulate how human eyes view out-of-focus areas.

Artwork 7

Movement of many
Oil paste and pencil on paper on canvas board

This work is an oil pastel drawing on black paper, featuring five female figures inspired by Renaissance art. I used black tissue paper surrounding the faces to create texture and depth, enhancing the overall composition. The figures are closely arranged, creating a crowded yet harmonious composition that guides the viewer’s eye across the canvas. Despite the busyness of the piece, their peaceful, closed-eyed expressions create a sense of calm and unity.

When creating this work, I wanted to reimagine traditional Renaissance portraiture through a more modern and personal lens. Instead of idealised or restrained depictions, I focused on natural beauty and individuality. I allowed more personal features to be visible, such as natural hair and unrestrictive clothing, to move away from historical expectations of concealment and conformity. This was important to me as a way of celebrating women as they are, rather than how they are expected to appear.

I aimed to balance unity with individuality. This work reflects my ideas of female connection, empowerment, and strength.

Artwork 8

Blooms of Life
Material: Fabric on canvas board

The inspiration behind this artwork comes from my best friends, who are the people who understand me the most and know what I’m feeling through this part of my life, because they are in the same situation. Coming towards the end of my academics, I have been faced with so many life choices and stressful periods about what I want my future to look like and which pathways I need to take to get there. The bouquet of flowers represents my friends and me. The ribbon portrays our friendship and the close connection we have, while the flowers represent the different pathways we are heading towards and how it fulfills us.

Artwork 9

The Journey
Acrylic paint, acrylic pen, clear acrylic varnish on canvas board

The painting depicts the journey of Sister Aloysius Martyn, Sister de Sales Dooley (the lifelong friend of Aloysius) and Sister Liguori O’Hara. The Postulants were Annie Woods, Ellen Gough, Eliza Byrne and Bridget McDonald, who boarded a ship and sailed from London on 26 September 1875 and arrived in Melbourne on 27 December.

In January 1876, the Mercy nuns first came to Bendigo. They arrived with the intention of providing education for Catholic girls and have since played a significant role in the community.

The white sails represent the ship, and the rough Mercy Crosses, their mission and the postulants who came with them and for those who came later. The circular patterns on the sails represent the three nuns who came to Australia, led by Aloysius Martyn. On the left side, the green is the rolling hills of Ireland, and the purple is the heather of County Mayo. On the right is the sun and warm colours of Australia, and the gold and gum leaves of Bendigo.

The wave represents the journey over the sea which would have been harrowing at times. Other elements are purely decorative.

Artwork 10

Like coming to life
Oil on Canvas

This oil painting shows a cat-like monster coming out of a TV with a big, creepy grin on its face. Its arms stretch out to the edges of the canvas to make it feel like it’s coming into the real world. The idea was based on a cartoon creature becoming real, which makes it unsettling. While painting, the oil paint sometimes stuck to the brush and went places I didn’t plan, but I worked with it instead of fixing it. I used brush strokes, blending, and dabbing techniques to add texture. The painting is inspired by Trevor Henderson’s Cartoon Cat. I want viewers to notice the details, shading, and strong contrasts.

Artwork 11 - SOLD

House Swimming Sports. Will it rain?
Acrylic on canvas board

Photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson coined the phrase the Decisive Moment. This painting is inspired by those moments at school that capture that moment of community, fun and celebration. The image reflects the energy at the annual House Swimming Sports. Painted to reflect the colours of each house and painted in an abstract style to reflect a moment in time, a memory to fall back on. For those who are a part of the school, we all know that such events rely on the weather. This is reflected in the title, ‘Will it Rain?’.

Artwork 12

The flowerpot
Watercolour on paper on canvas board

My inspiration comes from the theme of celebrating 150 years of Catherine McAuley College Bendigo. It explores the themes of friendship and community throughout a student’s time here at school. Within this artwork, there are a few aspects that symbolise the important impact of school. The ‘pot’ symbolizes the school grounds. It Is the foundation on which each student starts their journey of growth. Each flower within the pot is shown specifically as different heights to resemble the inner growth of a student, whether that be academic or emotional. There are five flowers in total and each flower is different. This highlights each of the most hardworking and supportive groups I’ve met here at school. These are the teachers who have guided me through the toughest parts of school and my friends who have listened to all the struggles behind the scenes. Each of these role models is presented as individual flowers to show their independence as a person.

I painted this artwork with tube watercolour paint, which was mixed with water to dilute the paint paste. I first sketched the outline for the art piece and left a light sketch to hide the intense grey lead lines. In specific areas of artwork that required a shape painted, such as the flower petals, I first added water to the specific shape, and when adding the watercolour paint on top, it would run through where water had been applied. After making the main shapes and bringing them all together as an artwork, I removed some of the harsh colour from each flower, as if the sun was glowing on one side of the flowerpot, to give the effect that the sun was facing a certain way.

Artwork 13 - SOLD

Untitled – The Beach at Anglesea
Acrylic paint on canvas board

I absolutely love the beach with all my heart. The reason I picked Anglesea Beach is that I had the best time surfing with my two best friends. And then I had to surf again, so I did. I found the beach there absolutely stunning, and with the best waves, and I mainly picked it because I loved my time there, especially with my friends. I will always remember going to the beach with my best friends and all the fun times we had there.

Artwork 14

Untitled: The Red Doors
Acrylic Paint on canvas board

This artwork is inspired by the life and legacy of Catherine McAuley, whose vision continues to shape the identity and values of our College community. At the centre of the piece is a red door, chosen not only as a symbol of living mercy but as a lived expression of Catherine’s mission.

Surrounding the door are flowers selected for their symbolic meanings. Lavender signifies devotion, sunflowers represent loyalty and longevity, irises symbolise the deep, meaningful connections I have developed throughout my years here, and wattle, a symbol of resilience and a tribute to Catherine McAuley College Bendigo and the strength found in our shared identity.

Together, these elements form a visual narrative of gratitude, belonging, and purpose. The work honours Catherine McAuley’s enduring influence while expressing my own experience of being shaped by a community grounded in Mercy.

Artwork 15 - SOLD

Untitled - Acceptance and belonging
Mixed media on canvas board

This mixed-media abstract piece is a visual representation of the six years I experienced and enjoyed at SMC/CCB. Six years marked by growth, friendship, creativity, learning, fun and faith.

Each layer of the artwork serves as a reflection upon the people, traditions, memories, friendships and experiences of this time in my life.

The textured composition represents the many different stages of my time at SMC/CCB.

Bold line and vibrant colours represent the energy and dynamism of friendships that I treasure to this day. These relationships were a constant, providing laughter, love, support and grounding me.

The assemblage of textures in the work echo the fluidity of my own creativity and the encouragement I received at SMC/CCB to be “me” and the best I could be.

The inclusion of text from the old St Mary’s school song represents being part of a school community where I felt acceptance and belonging. The lyrics are a guiding anthem that has stayed with me to this day. A reminder of the shared sense of purpose and potential we all had and still have. We were encouraged to embrace the future, be optimistic and boldly go forward.

The idea of youth stepping forward and being free really captures for me how I felt as a student of SMC/CCB in the 1980s.

Ultimately, this piece is not just about the past — it is an ongoing dialogue between where I came from, where I have been and where I am still going. It represents a moment in time but speaks to the continuous process of transformation, learning, and the enduring power of connection and community.

Artwork 16

A shard of memories
Watercolour on paper on canvas board

This artwork was created to reflect on memories of school by depicting an amethyst geode in a plain, bare mine. I was inspired by the rare moment of reflection that I experience after each school term. I was influenced by nature and natural formations, as I find them beautiful and calming. I believe that it relates well to the theme of memories. Treasuring these memories is important, and I have highlighted that in this work.

Artwork 17 - SOLD

New beginnings

This piece is a photograph of a painting completed in Wales. The work is a collaboration between two generations. The painting created in Wales is recreated in a digital format and re-imagined as telling the story of a great journey to new beginnings. The connection is to that of the Sisters leaving behind their lives and heading to new beginnings in Australia. The depiction of the sky has a strong connection to calling to the need beyond us. With this, the work is appropriated to draw our attention to journey and the need to build new foundations in a faraway land. This is the link to the Sisters of Mercy as they moved forward into the future to establish love hope and charity. The image of the clouds speaks volumes of how to forge forward with courage and such hope.

Artwork 18 - SOLD

New kid on the block
Mixed media

In 1982, everything was new: a new town, a new school, and starting Year 10 felt daunting. Everyone already had their friends—where would I fit in?

Two girls from my home group reached out—let’s call them Girl A and Girl B.

Girl A and I walked home the same way every day, but we kept our distance. One day, she stopped, I caught up, and she said something cool like, “Going my way?” We both laughed—and that was the start of our friendship.

Struggling to connect at school, I found refuge in the library. One lunchtime, as I pretended to browse the shelves, Girl B appeared and asked, “Are you lost?” Five seconds later, we were on our way to being great friends.

Suddenly, my world became bigger and brighter.

Artwork 19

Place
Watercolour on paper on canvas board.

The focus of this work is the distant sky. It represents our journey through life and the search for where we belong. We are all called to find our place, and I hope this artwork helps you reflect on your own.

The piece is created using watercolour to suggest a soft and gentle setting. Layers were built gradually to develop tone and simple textures that are unique to the medium. I hope that when you view this work, you will be able to find your own sense of place.

Artwork 20

Unimate Machina: Has AI a place
[Pronounced ‘Uni Mate’]
Oil on Canvas

The piece ‘Unimate Machina’ is intended to question the idea of Artificial Life and its evolution from science fiction, villain towards a human imposter. The patch of skin and eye are symbols that represent the human traits that are used in artificial life and modern-day robots. This eye is trying to replicate the human eye, but never does, due to its code. The green represents nature, as the blue is non-artificial. Together these colours clash with the pink separating both colours. The magic smoke held in the hand of the robot is a symbol of the power that AI is capable of. I used the painting techniques of fat over lean for most of this work. I began with the main colours, building up the surface texture through thin applications of paint to build a translucent effect. My intention was to engage with the audience and ask them to think about the whole idea of Artificial Intelligence and if it has a place.