Whittlesea Tech School recently hosted the launch of our latest exhibition entitled Da Vinci: Future Machines. A look at the genius of one of history’s most famous inventors, the exhibition displays recreated prototypes of some of Leonardo da Vinci’s most visionary inventions. The event was held in partnership with the Artisans of Florence and featured a talk by renowned local Da Vinci specialist, Stephanie Rizzo.
The Tech School welcomed visitors from across its broader network, with attendees from Melbourne Polytechnic, principals and teachers from partner schools, and members of the Hume Local Learning and Employment Network (HWLLEN) among others. Special guest Marc Blanks, Executive Director of Academic Operations at Melbourne Polytechnic, opened the proceedings.
The exhibition showcased two of Da Vinci’s life-long obsessions: flying machines and automatons. The various flying machines and replicas of animal wings made of wood, rope, and cloth, are fascinating examples of scientific observation as well as creativity and imagination. Not just for show, Da Vinci used these prototypes to test his theories – although many resulted in more bruises and broken bones than successful flights. Despite his failures, Da Vinci persisted. His relentless determination and iteration are perfect examples of the same mindsets we value at the Tech School.
In addition to the exhibition itself, Steph Rizzo’s captivating talk was a unique opportunity to learn about Da Vinci’s as more than just an artist, but as a human with a variety of interests and quirks. She delved into Da Vinci’s life, revealing fascinating anecdotes about his insatiable curiosity and relentless pursuit of knowledge. He was indeed an artist, but he was also a prolific scientist, engineer, biologist, and inventor.
Rizzo also emphasized how Da Vinci’s multidisciplinary approach to learning and his willingness to collaborate with experts from diverse fields were instrumental in his groundbreaking achievements. The capabilities that allowed Da Vinci to thrive are the same we see in the school curriculum today: creativity, critical thinking, effective relationships, ethics, collaboration and communication.
We were delighted to collaborate with the Artisans of Florence to host this event. We aimed to provide our visitors not only an opportunity to visit the Tech School and network with other educators, but to learn something that adds value to their own practice. We hope it served as a reminder of the great things we can achieve when we are able to work across disciplines with curiosity, creativity, and collaboration.
