THE SIX NGUNNAWAL SEASONS
At the recently completed Aunty Agnes Shea High School in Taylor ACT, CK Architecture commissioned five First Nations artists to create artworks centred around the traditional six seasons of the Ngunnawal people. These seasons do not follow a calendar, rather are related to landscape changes across the year.
The six seasons and their representative flora and fauna are:
- Pre-Summer: Creamy Candles & Bogong Moth
- Summer: Native Raspberry & Platypus
- Autumn: Everlasting Daisy & Eastern Long-Necked Turtle
- Pre-Winter: Bluebell & Eastern Grey Kangaroo
- Winter: False Sarsparilla & Echidna
- Spring: Wattle (Acacia) & Magpie
Take a look at the stunning project photos by Adam McGrath of HCreations to explore the design story of the six Ngunnawal seasons.
Pre-Summer
Featuring beautiful artwork by artist and teacher Bek Weddell (Ginyaang Art), the Pre-Summer season is featured across large stair areas, in the form of a large mural.
The use of this artwork and palette defines the meeting and gathering spaces in the school, encouraging connection and celebrating wellbeing. Acoustic baffles blend with the colour palette and improve the performance of the space.
SUMMER
Summer, artwork by Jazz Matthews (Wilay Designs). Featured across the quiet spaces and study nooks throughout the school, this artwork is designed for moments of calm and self-reflection.
In murals or printed on acoustic panel, the vibrant artwork features the Sun, hills and waterways, as well as the platypus and the native raspberry.
AUTUMN
Featured artwork by Richie Allan, Cultural Director at the Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation. The third of the six Ngunnawal seasons, the Autumn artwork is characterised by reds and browns.
Defining the hands-on spaces, like kitchenettes, food technology areas, and wet areas, the artwork features earthy tones and the motif of a turtle’s shell.
PRE-WINTER
Pre-Winter, the fourth of the six Ngunnawal seasons, features artwork by Kristal Matthews (Wilay Designs). Incorporating the bluebell and Eastern Grey Kangaroo, the artwork is used in the school’s collaborative areas.
Student interaction is encouraged in these spaces, and facilitated with the artwork printed onto acoustic panel, ensuring students have a comfortable learning experience.
WINTER
Featured artwork by Leah Brideson (Leah Brideson Arts). The Winter artwork evokes the memory of false sarsparilla and the echidna, with a colour palette of purple, blue and brown.
This artwork defins the specialty spaces in the school, including design, art, performing arts and physical education spaces. It features as a “vision strip” across large glazed panels to ensure safety.
Spring
Featuring a second artwork by Bek Weddell (Ginyaang Art). Evoking the wattle and magpie, the artwork is vibrant with yellows and browns, symbolising energy, life and growth.
This artwork is defined across the classrooms within the school, reminding students to honour the Ngunnawal seasons and Country.
