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Thursday, 13 June 2013

Pinjarra Primary School year seven leavers explored their connection with world-renowned author, artist, Oscar winner and UWA Fine Arts Graduate, Shaun Tan today at The University of Western Australia.

Pinjarra Primary School teacher Jan Middleton's brother Iain Middleton, is the artisan tiler behind the sundial's mosaic construction at UWA. In sharing the creative and mathematical process behind the sundial, Ian inspired the students to build their own sundial for their final year project.

Today the students visited Shaun Tan's sundial entitled Hours to Sunset, which adorns the west wall of The University Club, to understand how the sundial works.

After Iain Middleton described the art of mosaics and design on the sundial to the students, UWA's Dr Peter Kovesi explained the mathematics and science behind Shaun Tan's centenary gift to UWA.

The year sevens were then taken on a tour of the university grounds by Uni Role Model student volunteers.

For many of the students their first visit to UWA made a big impression.

"It's a much bigger place than I thought," said aspiring marine biologist/forensic scientist Amy Attwood (12).

"I liked the architecture of the place and there is so much here," said Connor Healy (12).

Jan Middleton said Pinjarra Primary School eventually hopes to attract sponsorship to be able to design and construct its own sundial on a large scale.

Shaun Tan graduated from UWA in 1995 with joint first class honours in Fine Arts and English Literature. As a young artist, one of his patrons was the then librarian at Subiaco Library, Susan Marie, who is now Director of UWA Extension . She commissioned and co-ordinated the Centenary sundial project and facilitated the Pinjarra Primary School visit along with UniDiscovery coordinator Megan Henderson.

Media references

Susan Marie (Director, UWA Extension)  (+61 8)  6488 2634

Michael Sinclair-Jones (UWA Public Affairs)            (+61 8) 6488 3229  /  (+61 4) 00 700 783

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