Catholic students in the Wollongong, Goulburn and Sydney dioceses have reflected on the meaning of the season through artwork.
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The Christmas Story Art Exhibition is a competition for year five and six students in which they create a religious work of art based on the events leading up to the birth of Jesus Christ.
In the spirit of Michelangelo, Caravaggio and Giotto 12,000 students participated in the annual competition which is now in its ninth year.
Of the 900 finalists 90 students were chosen to exhibit their work in the Crypt of St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney over the Christmas season, including seven students from the Illawarra.
Deanna Burton won the Archbishop’s Choice Award with her painting On the Day of the Annunciation the Heavens Opened.
The St Piux X Primary student’s work will be flown to Rome to be hung in the Australian quarters of the Vatican.
Stella Maris Primary School student Kristen Llewellyn’s painting Through Mary’s Eyes was also chosen by the Archbishop for a high commendation.
St Michael’s Primary School student Lily Pakula, of Thirroul, was highly commended in the Year 5 category for her triptych of The Three Wise Men.
‘‘It took me a long time to paint and it was really nice to see it in the exhibition,’’ Lily said.
‘‘There were so many good paintings in the Crypt. I chose the story of the wise men and painted them as magi because they were not kings.
"They were important priests or teachers. Some believe they were astronomers which is why I painted lots of stars.
"I wanted to show that the guiding star was with them the whole time they were on their journey to Bethlehem.
"I decided to paint them as Jewish and gave them each special head pieces instead of crowns.’’
Austinmer’s Noah Titmuss, also of St Michael’s Primary School, decided on a lino cut.
Using sharp knives he carefully re-told four Christmas stories - Mary’s Fruitfulness, Joseph’s Dream, The Magi and The Birth of Jesus.
‘‘Going to the crypt to see my work was good,’’ he said.
‘‘I was pretty glad with myself.
"The carvings took a long time to do. I used different colours to depict each story.
For example in Joseph’s dream I used all different colours because that’s how I imagine dreams to be. I also really liked the chance to express my faith in art.’’
Other students among the top 90 finalists from the Illawarra were Seamus Back and Simon Berto from Kiama’s Ss Peter and Paul’s Primary School and Lily King from Corrimal’s St Columbkille’s Primary.
The exhibition created a spirit of light and hope in the Crypt and the Archbishop Anthony Fisher said he would reflect on some of the paintings as he wrote his Christmas homilies.
One of the judges John Charadia, Archdiocesan Creative Arts Adviser, said it was a chance for students to highlight their creative talents as well as an opportunity to think deeply and open their hearts to the meaning of Christmas and the birth of Christ.
‘‘It’s an artistic and reflective process,’’ he said. ‘‘Students are taught to see beyond the surface to the multiple dimensions of the world, opening themselves to their unique powers of creative self-expression and bringing birth to new ideas.’’
The exhibition is on display at St Mary’s Cathedral until January 6.