Our School's Wearable Arts Performance

Last Thursday night we had our Wearable Arts Extravaganza at our school. Our class created costumes that represented individual New Zealanders who have had an impact on the world. Our topics were: Medicine, Science, Movie Making, Motor Sports and Military.

We were very impatient to be on stage and we had to wait for a very long time for our turn. When we were finally lining up to go into the hall, everyone was nervous. When it was over and done with and we had finished our performance, a wave of relief washed over us as we headed back to our classroom.

The winner in our class competition was the Military Group. They also won the runner-up award of the night. The judges said that you usually only saw a small Victoria Cross and it was good to see all the detail on it.

The Movie-Maker group won the award for the best hat and the Science group won the award for the best use of hula hoops and test tubes.


Military Theme: -->

Our voice-over was read by Mikayla:

"Our theme is New Zealanders who have contributed to military achievements in the world. We studied Willie Apiata, Nancy Wake, Sir Keith Park and Charles Upham. We decided to create a Victoria Cross because Willy Apiata received one in July 2007.The cross is made from card and paint, the chain is made from card, gold wire and paint. The under-piece is made from two sheets of woven flax, representing the Maori Battalion. The beret is made from an old towel and represents Nancy Wake because she helped the French and was the most decorated woman from the Second World War. The shoes are made from leather and cotton to represent boots."

Mikayla's Dad teaches us how to put army paint on our faces.

Maria wearing camo paint.

The Military group. Jenna and Katelyn in front, Mikayla, Maria, Juliana and Te Ana standing.

" The music for the Military group is supposed to set the mood and to make people feel how other people do about sacrifices for their country. The camouflage paint on our faces is to make us all look the same. I got it from my Dad who is the army and navy. It's an honour to be able to play the Last Post so we know that we had to stand still for the remembrance, " said Mikayla.

Science Theme:
Our voice over was read by Georgia:

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Our wearable art represents New Zealanders’ contributions to scientific discoveries and advancements in the world. We studied Ernest Rutherford, William Pickering, Alan McDiarmid and Beatrice Tinsley. Our artwork represents Ernest Rutherford splitting the atom. It is made of hoola-hoops attached with rivets and glue. Polystyrene balls represent molecules.

The art also represents us because, don’t we all make an impact on the world?

Did you know that 1971 was the centennial of Rutherford’s birth? In that year, Professor Peter Fowler, who was Rutherford's eldest grandchild, was appointed the Rutherford Lecturer to New Zealand.

The Science group. Ameleigh, Sheena, Georgia, Pooja - and So Yeon- the model.

So Yeon models the Science creation.

Medical Theme:
Our voice over was read by Sambit:

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" Our wearable art represents New Zealanders who have contributed to medical achievements in the world. We studied Fred Hollows, Brian Barrett Boyes, Archie McIndoe and Harold Gillies. Our art was inspired by who was a pioneer plastic surgeon in World War One, and his nephew, Sir Archie McIndoe, who was a plastic surgeon in World War 2. The front is a face before the plane crash and the back is a burnt face after the plane crash. The faces were made out of cardboard and papier mache. The cast is made out of a cardboard tube.The crutch was made out of piping and the bandages are recycled bubblewrap."

The Medical team: William, Daniel, Aminder, Sambit, Roneel and Kenneth- the model.

The pilot's face before he crashed his plane.

The pilot's face after surgery.

Kenneth models the Medicine group's costume.
Mrs Vincent said, "Just before Kenneth, the Medical model, was about to go on stage, he noticed that the bandage around his leg was unravelling. Luckily, I was nearby and could wrap it back up and tuck it in again. I hoped that it wouldn't come undone on stage. I was impressed with the way the groups presented their creations on stage."

Kenneth said, "I was scared because because Mrs Vincent might not see it was unravelling."


Movie Makers Theme:
Our voice over was read by Adryan: -->

"Our wearable art represents New Zealanders' contributions to the movie industry. We studied Peter Jackson, Nicki Caro, Andrew Adamson and Jane Campion. The giant camera is made from recycled materials including rubbish bags and a cardboard box with a tinfoil-covered plastic container.

Our clapper-board hat was made from papier mache on a balloon. Our model is wearing a rubbish bag dress with a belt made from a rubbish bag strip woven with sparkly elastic. The necklace is an old fashioned film reel which was the most sophisticated item to make, which was made with some trial and error.

An interesting fact we learned was that Peter Jackson made his first version of King Kong at nine years old.

Who knows, maybe soon a movie stars will be wearing our awesome design on the red carpet at the next Oscars. "

Movie-Makers team: Rebekah, Gulnoza, Kumiko, Caitlin and Adryan.

Caitlin models the Movie-Makers' costume as Rebekah, Kumiko, Adryan and Gulnoza stand in the background.

"When the group before us was about to finish, I was getting very nervous. I was quite surprised to win the best hat because some people, (not in our group) had joked about it," said Caitlin, the group's model.

Kumiko said, "I had a lot of fun, but I was really nervous. I couldn't move before our turn. Everyone was looking at our team. I thought that we did well and I was really happy that we won the best hat. I would like to do it again."

"I was so excited when I was at home, before the show, and I was jumping around waiting to go. When I got to school, I almost ran a hundred miles an hour to the classroom because I thought I was late," said Rebekah.

Motor Sports Theme:

Our voice over was read by Mighael:

" -->Our wearable art represents New Zealand motorsport successes in the world. On the helmet are the names of Burt Munro and John Britten to acknowledge motorbikes and Chris Amon and Bruce McLaren to acknowledge achievements in car racing.

The blue jacket, made from rubber carpet underlay, represents the rubber of tyres and the bubble wrap represents safety and protection. The chequered cape represents the finishing flag. The shoes, made from plastic milk containers, represent movement and cars overtaking each other on a racing circuit.

One interesting fact we learned is that Bruce McLaren died in a crash while he was test driving a car."

Mighael - Motorsport team's model.

Mighael models the Motor Sport group's costume as Shane stands in the background.

Shane, Theo, Nathan, Elliot and Mighael, the model.