This document provides examples of student work that meets the criteria for excellence in a Visual Arts assessment. It summarizes a piece where the student drew inspiration from the artist Joseph Cornell to create an assemblage inspired by the Pacific coast. The student demonstrated an understanding of Cornell's methods through clear development stages, from concept drawings to alternative 3D trials to the final work. Annotations showed evaluative thinking at each stage to develop ideas visually and technically. The final assemblage used careful selection and application of materials to achieve a unified, cohesive outcome.
39. http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/qualifications-
standards/qualifications/ncea/ncea-subject-resources/visual-arts/visual-
arts-annotated-exemplars/annotated-exemplars-level-1-as90021/
• This sample is in the middle of the Excellence grade range
• The methods and ideas of Joseph Cornell have been sufficiently understood to enable
the learner to generate a Pacific coastal outcome that integrates rather than imitates the
work of the artist.
• The concept drawing and collage stages are then developed into a series of alternative
three dimensional trials before embarking on the final assemblage.
• This collage/assemblage procedure is moved beyond creative play paradigms, by the use
of annotations throughout the development sequence that clearly demonstrate the
evaluative requirements of the first criterion for Excellence.
• Each stage of development is informed by a clear understanding of its particular purpose
within the developmental sequence. The concept drawings investigate layout and choice
of objects, while the montage/assemblage stages explore colour and technical issues.
• A degree of visual cohesiveness has been created by this careful selection of objects and
appropriate application of shellac. The result is an aged craft effect that enables the work
to operate as a single unified object.
• The technical finish demonstrates sufficient skilful use of media within the context of
the assemblage convention and level six strands of The Arts in the New Zealand
Curriculum document, as defined in explanatory note one of the standard.