Big Draw at the Brindley

Today I've been working with families at The Brindley arts centre in Runcorn to celebrate the Big Draw. We've been using the rubber stamp technique to create drawings in the same vein as my recent 'migrate' works which feature arrows.

Laser cut starling shapes were stamped onto the page in black ink, building up a flocking cloud of birds inspired by roosting starlings. As children placed the stamps they were able to create interesting effects; fluttering wings with a slight twist of the stamp, a bird emerging from behind a cloud where the ink applies unevenly, or loop-the-loop flight paths from repeatedly stamping.

The finished drawing will be hung at the Brindley later this month.

'Hopscotched' at art:language:location in Cambridge

Thursday 17th October sees the opening of art:language:location in Cambridge.  A city-wide exhibition of art, text and place featuring over 40 artists from Cambridge, the UK and abroad that aims to punctuate the city with arresting encounters with art.  I've created a jet-washed pavement piece, 'Hopscotched', at the Sidgwick Campus, University of Cambridge.

'Hopscotched' is inspired by the signage that populates our urban spaces, guiding us, affecting our movements around the city.  We are told to 'push', 'pull', 'return', 'access' or 'stop' as though the city choreographs us in a dance.  I have selected verbs and symbols from signage around Cambridge, then jet-washed them into the pavement of the University's Sidgwick Campus.  There, you're invited to be led through the public spaces in a playful way as though you've stepped into a board game, or found a new way of playing hopscotch.  Here's a video showing the installation of the work earlier this week:

Recent workshops at Secondary Schools

I've been doing a number of practice-led workshops in Secondary schools lately, including Knutsford Academy in Cheshire and Cowley International College, St Helens.  I thought I'd share a few pictures here.

Both schools wanted me to work with KS4 & KS5, although the sessions are equally suitable for younger age groups.  I started both sessions with a show and tell of my work, having brought original artworks, documentation, specialist materials and contextual reference books for them to handle and explore.  Students are able to ask questions about the work - it's production, the ideas behind it, and about the practicalities of working as an artist.

My practice is responsive to what I observe around me, so with Knutsford Academy we spent a while roaming the school, making observational drawings of small patterns and details that we would use in works later.  Following that, I've demonstrated a number of techniques, including using graphite powder, stencils, waxes, erasing, polishing and more.  Students created a study sheet exploring the materials, most of which are readily available in school, with more specialist items being provided by me.

The students of Knutsford Academy spent a whole day with me, so were able to really get their teeth into their work, with the afternoon providing time for them to explore creating an animated drawing using the techniques from the morning.

The graphite samples were mounted onto small panels and used to create an installation on the classroom wall, with other sample drawings being available to go into portfolios towards assessment.

 

In Cowley International College we looked at both my graphite works and my recent body of work featuring arrows and signage.  This day was structured differently as I met 5 different classes for 1 hour each.  The students were again able to handle original artworks, and spent some time looking at the works, determining how and why the artworks had been made before sharing their findings with the rest of the class.

A short practical activity rounded off the session, with students able to experiment with graphite powder and stencils or to 'draw' using my collection of custom made rubber stamps.  The teachers will now develop work within the Art and Design curriculum including contextual references to my practice and taking forward some of the techniques demonstrated.

Animating at the Harris Museum and Art Gallery

Saturday saw me working with 'Young Harris' the group of young people who meet at the Harris Museum and Art Gallery on a regular basis.  We did some experiments with animation using drawings.  We're planning to create a larger 'drawn' animation on the Harris Flights, which will be a temporary staircase entrance to the museum, at the end of the month, so watch this space.