Southern Cross Catholic College

The North Queensland Parade 2022–23

Clay

Various sizes

Not for sale

About the Work

What does it mean to be a North Queenslander?

The Southern Cross Catholic College community answered this question through the form of a crab: tough on the outside, soft on the inside, a lover of the sun and the sea. The crabs in this work march along in a joyful parade, celebrating diversity, multiculturalism, mateship and how wonderful it is to live in North Queensland. We challenge you to find your crab.

Which crab are you?

About the Artists

Artists and art teachers Athena Costopoulos and Skye Carroll have led this community project at Southern Cross Catholic College. Staff and students of all ages were given the opportunity to design, make and glaze their interpretation of a North Queensland crab. The project has been embedded into the curriculum and is also offered as part of the much-loved Reef Guardian program at the College.

Athena is a multidisciplinary artist, specialising in painting, printmaking and fibre art. Her work has been exhibited in solo and collaborative exhibitions in Townsville, Rockhampton and Brisbane, and she has designed and constructed sets for theatre groups. Athena’s recent practice centres around challenging perceived notions of the traditional use of materials and surfaces to create innovative artworks, often out of repurposed materials. This is Athena’s second collaborative artwork for Ephemera.

Skye is a ceramicist, painter and illustrator. Her self-portrait was shortlisted at the Percival Portrait Prize in 2018 and her upcoming solo exhibition My Spiritual Home reflects her love of the Great Barrier Reef. As a passionate scuba diver, lead Reef Guardian teacher and member of the Townsville Catholic Education Environmental Advisory Group, Skye supports schools with curriculum advice and promotion of sustainable practices.