The Sustainable School

The "Magic Scarf" began life as a large canvas painting that took six months to create.

Looking at the scarf, it immediately evokes sakura in spring, with petals drifting on the breeze. While the art style was inspired by impressionist Erin Hanson, we added special gold, blue and emerald green hues to reflect the unique colours of Otago.

The scarf is a perfect decoration and neck warmer in this weather, and it offers many possibilities for its creative wearers - be it as a headband, for neck styling, or even as an interesting, colourful addition to your bags.

Made in 100% cotton, we have only 5 left at the Otago Art Society - OAS Gallery Shop 🖼️🛍️. All profits go to the Learning for All initiative at The Sustainable School, making STEAM+Sustainability learning fun and accessible to children and families of all backgrounds.🍀

The art of noticing lives in your consciousness — a whimsical breeze, or flower petals drifting from afar. 🍃🌸

Transformed from an original painting, this tote is a gentle reminder of the beauty around us.

In this era where our attention is constantly captured by digital stimuli, it's sometimes worth slowing down, taking a breath, and quietly and gratefully watching the real world.

Each stroke is a reminder of owning that consciousness. Bring this limited-edition 100% cotton tote bag with you and share with us what it has led you to think about.

Available at the Otago Art Society - OAS Gallery Shop 🖼️🛍️. All profits go to our Learning for All initiative by The Sustainable School, making STEAM+Sustainability learning fun and accessible to children and families of all backgrounds.🍀

Learn more about our Learning for All initiative here: https://www.thesustainableschool.org/learning-for-all

If you could paint creativity, what would it look like? 🎨

It may hold thousands of interpretations for others, but for you, it is uniquely your own.

The "Creative" artwork was inspired by the camellia 🌺, a gorgeous flower we can easily spot in Dunedin Botanic Garden, community parks, and many other places. It has long been admired in Asian culture, being associated with eternal love and long-lasting devotion in China, and with elegance, grace, and inner strength in Japan.

And because camellias bloom in the dead of winter, they also represent resilience, longevity, and the ability to thrive against the odds. 💪 Just as we wish creativity were, they are not restricted and thrive regardless of the environment.

Carry this artistic tote with you and let your creativity bloom!

Limited edition available at the Otago Art Society - OAS Gallery Shop 🖼️🛍️. All profits go to our Learning for All initiative, making STEAM+Sustainability learning fun and accessible to children and families of all backgrounds.🍀 The Sustainable School

Give your curiosity wings and let it fly as far as possible! 🪽

The gull is one of the most commonly seen natural creatures in the beautiful Dunedin NZ. However, for someone who arrived here from a tropical country, they have really been a surprise, whether at a picnic or outside takeaways. 😜

We painted and named the artwork "Curious" not only because it's one of the essential pillars of The Sustainable School, but also because it encourages an open mindset towards different possibilities.

Originally an acrylic painting, this tote transforms the playful artwork into a portable piece you can carry anywhere. Made from 100% cotton, it features a large-volume design for all your accessories.

Limited edition available at the Otago Art Society - OAS Gallery Shop 🖼️🛍️. All profits go to our Learning for All initiative, making STEAM+Sustainability learning fun and accessible to children and families of all backgrounds! 🍀

Why have we designed the "Curious, Creative, Conscious" bag series? 🍀

𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗹𝗹, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 "𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗲". Each bag was printed on 100% cotton for durability and long-term use. The size was chosen with practicality in mind, which means you can actually use it for everyday purposes, whether it's a 15-inch laptop (or smaller pads), light outerwear, or books and accessories. 💻💄🕶️🧥📗

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 🎨🖌️ Each took a few weeks to ideate and create. We will share more stories about each artwork soon!

We've adopted a 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹-𝗯𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵. Each design is available in limited quantities of 10. Again, the idea is not to encourage overconsumption, so buy one only if you need it or would like to gift a friend. 🎁

Lastly, the idea of making our first physical products is to sustain the idea of The Sustainable School.

𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿, 𝘄𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝟳 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝗹𝗶𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗗𝘂𝗻𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗻, 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 + 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝘂𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟬𝟬 𝘄𝗵𝗮̄𝗻𝗮𝘂 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗸𝗶. While working with recycled materials - either sourced by ourselves or donated by the community - helps to save costs, we need to find a way to balance the costs of travelling and printing necessary materials. At the same time, all curriculum design and delivery were done in personal time, driven by purpose and passion.

𝗦𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗽 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 Otago Art Society - OAS 𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗽 𝗮𝘁 Dunedin Railway Station. In the following posts, we will share more about each artwork and how it relates to the TSS ideology.

Just some snippets of our curious, creative, and conscious bags at the Otago Art Society - OAS gallery shop 🌸🪽🍀🖼️

Happy weekend! Something magical 💫 is coming your way…

Otago Art Society - OAS Dunedin Railway Station

Education has changed the lives of many, and education is the way that we and .

When exchange student Tabitha reached out for help with hosting a local at Dunedin as part of her learning attachment's 'grand finale', we said 'yes'. It turned out to be a great experience engaging diverse communities passionate about and making new friends!

We're also heartened by the many helping hands that reached out during the preparation process, facilitating engagement when the super cute tamariki from Otago University Childcare Association arrived, and by simply talking to strangers who showed interest in what we do. It's a beautiful illustration of what's printed on the central library's window:

What is the most important thing in the world?
It is people, it is people, it is people.

He aha te mea nui o te ao?
He tāngata, he tāngata, he tāngata



University of Otago Sustainability at Otago New Zealand Festival of Nature Zoology Department, University of Otago - new Department of Botany, University of Otago