Brushstrokes & Belonging: Mannix Unveils Art Showcase
At Mannix, we nurture the whole student — encouraging excellence not just in study and leadership, but in sport, music, creativity, culture, and community life. Our residents continue to prove that talent takes many forms, and recently, their creativity took centre stage.
The Chapel foyer came alive with colour and imagination as the Mannix community gathered to celebrate a milestone — our very first student art exhibition.
Led by MCSS Committee Member Madeleine Steer, the showcase featured an inspiring collection of paintings, sketches, and mixed-media works by Mannix residents. Each piece revealed the imagination and individuality that make our community so special, transforming the Chapel into a vibrant gallery of student expression.
“This event was inspired by one of our past MCSS Presidents, Fletcher Smith,” said Madeleine. “When I joined the MCSS, I was looking for opportunities to make a difference and remembered a conversation with him about this very idea. As a student of Art History and Curating, I’ve always been passionate about creating narratives through art and working with a beautiful team to make something inclusive for the community. This showcase became an outlet for all creatives at Mannix to share their skills and demonstrate their growing artistic practice.”
It was especially meaningful, she added, to see Mannixians from such diverse degrees engaging in creative work: “It was particularly special to have residents from different academic backgrounds exploring artistic expression together. The support from everyone has been amazing.”
Adding to the occasion, Gabriella Calandro (2007) — a proud Mannix alum and practising artist with the Shepparton Art Museum — returned to help open the exhibition. In a generous gesture, Gabriella donated one of her own works to the College. “Her reflections on being the only Fine Arts student during her time at Mannix were inspiring,” said Madeleine. “We hope to continue cultivating this space for future creative Mannixians.”
The afternoon was filled with connection, conversation, and pride — a celebration not just of art, but of the creativity and community spirit that thrive within College life.
A huge thank you to all the talented artists who contributed, to everyone who came along to support them, and to student media team members Belle Tamblyn and Laura Thompson for beautifully capturing the event.
