FIRST CLASS 20 AT MAC

Ms JODIE HARRISON (Charlestown)—The MAC—Lake Macquarie's Museum of Art and Culture—is hosting First Class 20, a showcase for some the region's best young artistic talent. The young artists explored themes as diverse as the COVID-19 pandemic, the Black Lives Matter movement and environmental issues affecting society. Curator Helen Willis said the exhibition shows "students' awareness of the big issues facing us all". St Mary's Catholic College, Gateshead, 2020 HSC student Liam Nash used a collage of hundreds of screenshots, text messages and other digital correspondence, sent to and from his girlfriend during the COVID‑19 lockdown, to create incredible portraits of himself and his girlfriend. Warners Bay High students Sophie Davidson, Alivia Dwyer, Alanna King, Jacinta Leck, Cassidy Motum and Holly Quigley showed extraordinary works across a range of styles and mediums. Lorien Saunders of Hunter Sports High produced an outstanding pencil drawing: The Possible Impact of a Stranger's Gesture. Sara Peisley of Kotara High has exhibited a wonderful piece called Endemic. I salute these extraordinary young artists and wish them all the best in future artistic endeavours.

A Community Recognition Notice is an opportunity for an MP to submit a short statement praising the work of an individual or group in the local community. If you have any ideas about people I can recognise with a Community Recognition Notice, please email and let me know!