Warnayarra the Rainbow Snake takes pride of place at Alice Springs preschool

A special work of art created collaboratively by the children and teachers of Ida Standley Preschool is taking pride of place at the site as Australia acknowledges National Reconciliation Week, held from 27 May to 3 June each year.

Warnayarra the Rainbow Snake has been installed as a dot painting. It  is the product of 50 preschoolers from the service working alongside teacher-in-charge Jenny Earls.

“The children were excited by the concept after seeing a snake painting by local artist Rosemary Nampijinpa,” Ms Earls said.

After viewing the work, the children thought about a Dreamtime animal they could paint, and chose Warnayarra.

“I drew the 40 cm long snake and I painted its outline as acrylic white dots. The children used kebab skewers, minus the pointy ends, to add their colours as dots within these boundaries,” Ms Earls said.

“The week-long project is the first big painting undertaken by the children, and they are very proud of their work,” she added. 

As part of the continued exploration of Dreamtime stories, the children have also engaged with books such as How the Birds Got Their Colours, How the Kangaroos Got Their Tails, and The Bat and The Crocodile.

To learn more about the preschool, please see here.