From Griffith Primary to M16 Art Space
I am currently exhibiting my artwork at M16 Artspace in Canberra. In 1957 the building opened as Griffith Primary School, and I was in the first intake of students at the school. It continued as a school until 1994 when the building was taken over by the ACT Library Service to become the Griffith Branch and the administration section of the ACT Library Service. ‘In 2005, M16 secured relocation to the old Griffith Library on Blaxland Street. In 2010, after five years of campaigning and planning on the part of dedicated tenants, staff, and community, and with the support of the ACT government, M16 Artspace completed relocation to its current home at the former library.’
Records seem scant on the history of the old school. There is a box of ‘stuff’ in the ACT Libraries heritage section (which cannot be borrowed) and there does not seem to be any old news items or history of the school on the web.
School days: My parents’ house was very close to the school, and it meant we could walk or ride our bikes to school instead of catching the bus to Telopea Park School where I spent 3rd and 4th grade. We lived in Frome Street which intersects with Blaxland Crescent where the old school Building and now M16 Art Space and ‘Life without Barriers’ are housed.
It was the second ‘new ‘school I had attended as one of a burgeoning group of post war babies began school age the Government had to keep on building schools to house us. We later became known by colloquial term Baby Boomers. And I wear that title with pride.
I was put into class 5B for my first year at Griffith Primary. (My reports always noted ‘Barbara could do better’ or ‘Barbara talks in class‘). The senior classes were upstairs and the lower grades on the ground floor. It smelt of new paint and the décor, blackboards and desks were all so modern and new. No ink wells in gnarled wooden desks with double bench seats. We had shiny new desks and chairs. I was deeply in love with a fair haired boy in fifth grade and can not remember much else of what I did. Memories kick in around 1958 when I was in 6AC. Our teacher was Mr Collins whom I think was the Deputy. I played on the Softball Team and in that year began my Athletic pursuits. I am not sure why I decided to run but was moderately proficient and represented the ACT in the School Athletic Championships in Sydney that year. As we walked to ‘the Griffith Shops’ on the day I installed my show we crossed what used to be the oval and memories of me running the 100 yards race were so clear.
Gallery 1 at M16 used to be the Woodworking Department. But I was a girl, and I did Home Duties, I still have my first attempt of sewing. I think it was on Aida cloth. I was not that enamoured of hand sewing preferring to read and run. So I don’t think my humble first stitches were the lead in to me being able to call myself a textile artist today. But I obtained a highly commended for Art in the Junior Red Cross Exhibition.
That year I was also quite busy gaining a Distinction in the Health and Temperance Knowledge Test, I passed a First Aid Course and was duly enrolled as a Girl Guide. I think it must have been the Griffith Primary School building or teachers as there was a distinct lack of any academic prizes for me in the future.
My days at Griffith Primary coincided with the days of free milk for all school children. This was given to us at lunch time after sitting outside a fridge for several hours. We also were one of the first batch of children to receive the Polio Vaccine. I recall that I thought it would be good to cry a lot so I could get out of class time. My parents were quite involved on the P and C and helped raise funds for varying educational items like Library Books and Sports Equipment. My mother had a beautiful large garden and always ran the flower stall. The species of Platanaceae or Plane trees that were planted in the late fifties are now all so tall and almost dwarf the school. The Chinese Elms or Ulmus parvifolia, that used to line Frome Street are also planted around the school. These plus the one outside my old home are over 76 years old.
So…… I go back to my old school on Sunday to ‘Bump out’ my exhibition. Its title Layered Land has many meanings. Yes, it is about the landscapes my eye constantly seeks but its deeper meaning is the layers of life and time.
