Page 24 - Luce 2024

N ews a nd Events

Records and Remembrance:

Making the JCH Mural

The Janet Clarke Hall Mural will adorn the temporary fencing at the
front of the College (see right) while the plans for building a new wall
are finalised. I would like to thank the Janet Clarke Hall Principal for
entrusting me with this project and providing access to the archives
and materials. I would also like to gratefully acknowledge all the past
and present students who contributed by sending me information,
photos, artwork and scrapbooks. Without their support and
contribution, this project would not be possible.

Anyone who has set foot inside Janet College needed to be removed and I hope that past, current, and future
Clarke Hall will know that the building rebuilt, which would take quite a few students will use this opportunity to
is oozing history. From the solid months. She wondered if I could design a learn more about the College’s illustrious
wooden front door to the stained glass mural to cover the temporary fence, and history. I am also hoping – a bit cheekily
windows, our beloved College has a lot I jumped at the opportunity! I wanted – that passers-by will also learn a little bit
to celebrate. What better way to do this to collaborate with residents past and about the building behind the fence, and
than to take a blank, boring temporary present to celebrate the history of the what it represents.
fence and make it magical? College.

The Rationale The next step was to send an email to
One of the things I have always loved our alumni asking them to contribute
about JCH is our creative spirit. From memories and photographs. Many past
the numerous events and programs we and present students sent me information,
run to the individual elements we add to photos, artwork and scrapbooks of their
our rooms, Janet Clarke Hall students are time at Janet Clarke Hall. I also had
known around the Crescent as creative access to the extensive College archives.
types. This was my jumping-off point! After gathering all these wonderful items,
I spent many hours communicating
I was provided with a bunch of with alumni about their experiences,
inspirational images, including some discussing dinners and dances; as well as
colour schemes and ideas. The thread pouring through archival material.
running through the designs was their The Remembrance
handmade qualities. I used this as the Next, the design stage! I worked through Throughout this project, I have been
main influence and settled on a design three versions of the original design, each drawn to certain images – those of
based on the ‘scrapbook doors’ of time updating and tweaking it to match students from several decades ago. I was
College residents. I have fond memories Dr Spencer-Regan’s vision. We worked not sure what I expected, but the thing
of adding more (and more and more!) back and forth, changing colours slightly, that stood out most to me was how much
photos, pictures and paraphernalia to the working on font choices, and deciding on they felt like today’s Janet Clarke Hall
door of my room, so this seemed like a the overall theme. students. They studied like us, sitting in
fitting spark! I hope you can see these the library and focusing. They played
elements in the final mural, and maybe Our final stage is the printing and sport like us – tennis, football, netball…
unlock some memories of your creative installation of the panels. We are working the list goes on. They succeeded like
expression during your time at JCH. with a local Melbourne printer to us – winning awards and fellowships
produce the panels, which will be fixed and going on to do big things around the
to the temporary wooden fence outside world. And they partied like us – enjoying
the College. Keep an eye out for an themselves with their fellow residents.
official launch date coming up in the next
couple of months. We hope you will join Erin Mathews (2012)
us at this special opening event.
Erin Mathews (she/her) is a curator, artist,
The Result writer and speaker based in Melbourne.
My aim in creating this mural was to She currently works in the professional
celebrate the history of Janet Clarke Hall. museum and gallery world, while
There are so many interesting tidbits making her own art under the Cabinet
The Resources about our College, and this project has of Curiosities name. She is also a non-
Creating this artwork has involved allowed me the time to discover them. resident tutor at JCH.
working through four stages over the last From reading the Tiger Lily Rag from the
nine months. It started with a meeting 1980s, through to finding photographs of www.erinmathews.au
request from Dr Spencer-Regan. She 1920s students, this has been a fantastic
explained that the front wall of the opportunity for a history nerd like me.

24 LUCE Number 22 2023