Emerging artists in Year 7 are about to embark on an ambitious – and furry – class project that will see McLaren Vale’s most colourful cellar door companions immortalised in art.

As part of the project, visual arts students will undertake a series of drawings and lino prints of local vineyard animals with a view to creating a special animal-themed exhibition that will raise much-needed funds for the RSPCA.

Year 7 arts teacher, Harriet (Harry) Geater-Johnson, says that the project is designed to help students draw inspiration from a real-life subject and refine their artistic ideas while connecting with some of the region’s most beloved vineyard pets.

“Our students will have the opportunity to produce their own lovely interpretation of McLaren Vale’s furry friends while learning the processes involved in a producing a body of work for a real exhibition,” says Ms Geater-Johnson.

“The students are particularly motivated to raise much-needed funds for the RSPCA and ensure that more of the animals in our community have the chance to live a life of love, safety and freedom.”

Ms Geater-Johnson and her class are inviting all local wineries to submit high-resolution headshots of their cellar door companions – as well as their pet names and details of their best trait – to hgeater@tatachilla.sa.edu.au.

The deadline for submissions has been extended until Monday 1 May 2023.

All types of animals are sought for the project.

“Wineries might have a dog that loves to greet visitors, or a cat that sleeps among the vines, or a llama that eats weeds, or even a donkey that chases tourists… we want photos of them all!” Ms Geater-Johnson says.

All wineries who participate in the Animals of the Wineries Project will be warmly invited to attend the final exhibition at the College at the end of term two and will have the opportunity to purchase a print of their beloved companion.

“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.”
~ Anatole France