Alexis Rago Making the Complex Simple - Teacher Training event

You may remember our Education Officer hounding teachers and schools to attend a truly unique teacher training session with one of our exhibiting artists, Alexis Rago. Well, here are some fabulous photos and descriptions of how the day panned out.

We began with an artist led tour around his exhibition, to gain a better understanding of how Alexis' creative output communicates with his audience.

Alexis' exhibition Chaos Contained uses clay and repeated shapes patterns and symmetry, to introduce us to chaos theory.  The work is exquisite and looks beautiful in the Chancel Gallery, with all the original church windows and features.

 

Back in the Education Room, Alexis spoke of his journey through the arts, as a student, as a practising artist and as an artist who teaches.  It was a very interesting introduction to how an artist would start their life and career path.

An example of fired clay, which we were to all recreate using well practised techniques and clay rolling skills.

At each stage, Alexis pointed out ways in which these skills can be embedded in the classroom, continually reminding us of how a child's brain may work a lot simply than we remember as adults.
Once a shape is simplified, we notice that all 3D shapes derive from a sphere, even large pointy cones.  

Combining the shapes we'd made, teachers were then given the chance to decorate their creations. It was important for teachers to notice the marks made by various tools.

Once delegates had completed their star fish, we moved on to use a different clay; one we used to make ourselves a pinch pot.

The careful hand movements were difficult to master and reminded us how it felt to have to learn new muscle movements with having no experience. It was reassuring to know that each of us felt the need to concentrate, as the skill didn't come naturally.

Some of the final outcomes were really interesting, as each individual had a different take and understanding of the material. This is a quality we often forget as teachers, that children have their own individual vision and interpretation of a materials and their chosen outcome. This is something that we should perhaps celebrate and nurture more in our pupils, which was something discussed around the table.

"[The delivery of the session was] very information and practical. Good teaching of skills that can be used to teach the children." - KS1 teacher

"Clear step-by-step instructions. It was friendly, relaxed, clear and interesting. It was a great session with good transferable skills." - KS3 teacher

"I will be sharing this with staff in school!" - KS2 teacher

Overall, the afternoon gave the teachers a chance to work directly with an artist to better understand a material used year in year out in every classroom.

Alexis' exhibition Chaos Contained will be on display in the gallery until the end of Summer Term, meaning there is ample opportunity to take advantage of Self Guided Tours, Guided Tours or booking a related workshop, so your pupils can learn from the skills passed on by Alexis.

To book any of the above mentioned, please contact our Education Officer on 01724 297070 or email education.2021@northlincs.gov.uk

Newsletter Issue Seven Has Landed

The Education Officer at 20-21 Visual Arts Centre tries to design and deliver two Newsletters each term. These usually include opportunities on the horizon and a brief round up of some key workshops from that term.

Issue Seven has just landed and should be in email inboxes in the next few days. This issue includes:

Crowle Primary's Arty Aztec project with years three to six

Oasis Academy Henderson Avenue Primary's whole year one project with artist Dominic Heffer

The Art Superheroes of Grange Lane Infants

A rare artist lead Teacher Training session including the chance to WIN a FREE workshop at 20-21.

Upcoming Opportunities for schools to engage with exhibiting artists

If you're yet to recieve a copy of Issue Seven or would like to be included on our mailing list, please get in touch with us on 01724 297070 or email education.2021@northlincs.gov.uk

Last Newsletter of 2013!

We have just sent out our latest and last newsletter of the year! Our first ever four pager is jam packed with information on some of the things we've been up to and what opportunities are available for the new year.

 

 
This issue features all the successes of this year, including details of our now award winning services, our new Teacher Training offer Finding the Rs in Arts and opportunities to work with some exciting artists!
 

First  opportunity up, available until April  2014 only:

The Baked Bean Making Machine, with artist Dominic Heffer

 

 

Winner of our Open competition, international artist and maker extraordinaire, Dominic Heffer is offering an outrageously exciting opportunity for school engagement.

 

Dominic's bold images and sculptures currently adorn the halls of our galleries, and we're working with him to get as many schools and children involved in his new project the Baked Bean Making Machine, as we can.

 

Work with Dominic to create a machine that uses skills in design and technology, and creative and critical thinking.

 

 

 

Our second very exciting opportunity comes in the shape of lots of electrical wires, light switches and technological thinking:

 

 

Virtual World Workshop and Volatile Light

Highly esteemed theatre company IOU are bringing one of their most exciting exhibitions to 20-21 Visual Arts Centre in May 2014.

 

 

 

“Volatile Light is a mesmerising sound and light installation. Featuring an array of     specially made machines, LED lights will be attached to rotating arms, levers and cranks to weave a series of eccentric curves, sweeping arcs and hectic scribbles in the darkened gallery space.

 

“The IOU Virtual World workshop allows   participants to learn about 3D design and architecture, physics and mathematics, along with the ability to gain an understanding of computer programming, virtual reality and the gamification of theatrical mechanics.”

 

Please contact our Education Officer (details below) to book this truly fantastic experience, or to find out more about how our award winning services can support art in your school.

 

 

If you or your school haven't received a copy of the end-of-year newsletter and would like to know the latest news and arts education opportunities, please don't hesitate to get in touch with a relevant email address for us to forward on a copy: education.2021@northlincs.gov.uk or 01724 297070

Project Willows

At the back end of last year, 20-21 were approached to deliver a session to a group of primary school children, as part of a project, looking at introducing children to new places and for them to meet new people and try out exciting new activities developed especially for them. This pilot project became known as Project Willows; a name decided by the group of children on their first day. Education at 20-21 quickly became the project management for the pilot, taking it in a creative and fun direction.

 

Project Willows was a 12 week programme which started and ended with the childrens' interests at its core. Creative sessions were developed around the theme of gaming and the arts. Children designed characters, costumes, missions and computer games, as well as attending places like Doncaster Race Course and local colleges.

 

There were lots of partners involved to ensure a quality diverse offer. On 10th July 2013, Project Willows sadly came to an end and went out with a bang with a big event and exhibition held at 20-21.

 

Below are some pictures of the sorts of things we got up to at that event!

 

Chloe showed Mr Garbutt around the exhibition, reminding him of all the creative printing techniques they used to make their bright and colourful bags and artworks.



Pupils explained to adults and parents the sorts of activities they got up to during their time on Project Willows. The children made clay sculptures to depict their future aspirations.



Chloe and Reece with their mums, pointing out all the pictures of themselves doing various workshops.



Harry and Owen showed Mr Tinsley around their exhibition. Mr Tinsley came up with the idea for Project Willows and supported each and every decision made, guaranteeing quality in our offer.



Owen telling adults about the fun we had making clay sculptures..



The boys performed their drama piece that was created with Duckegg Theatre Group.



Mr Garbutt being shown the childrens' clay sculptures.
The pupils talked through what sort of jobs they want when they grow up.



Cats - represent one of the pupils wanting to be a vet.

Once everyone had had a bite to eat and seen their glorious exhibition, parents, pupils and adults were taken through to the gallery to watch a short documentary of the children's views of Project Willows. The pcompleted an activity, to decorate a DVD cover so they could take their copy of the documentary home with them.

Everyone was so busy, they didn't realise a famous football manager had arrived!

Brian Laws is the football manager for Scunthorpe United Football Club.
He came along to congratulate us all and present the children with their certificates and medals of achievement.

 

 

 

 

Once the event was over, the children filled their screen printed bags with the clay sculptures, pictures and memories of their time of Project Willows.

Everyone has agreed that Project Willows was a massive success! Education at 20-21 feel honoured and priviledged to have had played a big role in such an exciting pilot project. We look forward tro running bigger and better long-term schemes for schools who are interested in upskilling pupils and introducing them to new experiences.

 

For more information on what took part during Project Willows, or for how to get invovled in future long-term projects, please don't hesitate to contact our Education Ofiicer, Hayley McPhun on 01724 297070 or education.2021@northlincs.gov.uk

Summer break Newsletter

We are fast approaching the end of the school year. Winding down and wrapping up is always a good way of reflecting on the educational impact we've been making throughout the year.

20-21 Visual Arts Centre has been thriving with school visits including an Andy Warhol workshop with Burton Primary and on going creative curriculum support with Brumby Juniors among many others. We've run major projects with Willoughby Road Primary and Eastfield Primary that have tackled embedding arts throughout the curriculum, training a whole staff team and tackling issues facing potential NEET primary children. Have a look at this newsletter for further information of what we've been up to, or scroll through the blog to discover what other schools we've been working with this term.

 

 

As a result of such a successful school year, 20-21 have been looking at our education offer. From September we will have new loan packs, new workshops and exciting exhibitions on the horizon for next year! More details can be found on the "Education Offer" page on this blog, which is now unlocked from the school's firewall, meaning all pupils and staff can access the blog on school computers throughout North Lincolnshire!

 

We'll be around until the end of July, if you have an queries regards any of the above information.

We hope you have a great summer break. See you next year!

Everyday Objects with Brumby Juniors!

As an ongoing project with Brumby Junior School, Education at 20-21 delivered an Everyday Objects workshop to year six's as part of the school's creative curriculum.

Mrs Musgrave was inspired by Jason Taylor's Everyday Objects exhibition, here at 20-21 Visual Arts Centre, and decided that her offer for the school's creative summer term would be for the children to get involved with recycling household objects into artwork!

We started by looking at some of the examples the pupils had made in the lead-up to our workshop:


Some really fun house plants made of household objects!

This one made us particularly hungry! A sports ball, crayons and packaging becomes a delicious hearty meal!

This crazed looking doll has mechanics that mean the head wobbles about all over the place!

The workshop set many timed challenges for the children to think outside the box, quickly. The class were split into groups of three and were expected to use their initiative and observational skills to recreate objects displayed. The workshop leader would hold up unusual objects for a matter of seconds. The children were expected to gather the correct materials and notice methods and patterns in the makings of the objects, before working as a team to recreate them.



The 20-21 Junk Shop

First up,  the Peg Bowl, a temporary small structure that followed patterns, repetition and direction:

Notice how the pegs are added in rows of colour/pattern and then another row of a different style/colour pegs is added in a particular direction. The bowls should stand sturdy on their own. Let's see how the children fared up!

An interesting example of pattern and repetition!

A proud group.



All children were asked to write words or phrases that came to mind when making all their objects, throughout the session. This was a good way of recording thinking process and decision making.

Starting again after realising it would topple over.

Working well as a team!

Some groups were more successful than others, noticing the patterns of colour and repetition. The outcomes were all beautiful and reminded us of lots of different things, including tarantulas and space ships.

Next up, The Straw Leaved Clover!  Thinking along the lines of Jason Taylor's humour regards titles for his objects, our Education Officer used straws and wire to create this "interesting" clover:



Children were shown this masterful piece for a few seconds, before fetching the objects they thought they'd need.

This group kept their straws straight and threaded the wire through in attempt to shape the leaf.

This group designed a very intriguing method of cutting along the length of the straws and flattening the curve of the plastic. This was then wrapped and tied together to form the shape of the leaves.

This group were nick named The Engineers after deciphering a very intricate and complex method to curve the straws... cutting them into small sections, but leaving the very end the keep them all joined together.

The Engineers, with their very successful Straw Leaved Clover!

Once all groups were complete, they were chosen to display and discuss their method of working as a team and the decisions they made as designers, to create their Straw Leaved Clover.

After a tidying up operation, the final creation session was for the pupils to work independently to create Flyer Flowers!

 

These fab creations were made using simple folding and stapling techniques to make some interesting geometric shapes.

Armed with a stack of old flyers from 20-21's archives, and a stapler filled with staples, the class created some truly lovely and greatly successful Flyer Flowers!

 

 

 

 

The highlight of the day was watching the class work together and notice the properties of various household objects. Some of the children really thought things through and recognised qualities in objects and each other, that they'd never seen before.

 

 

Thank you Brumby Juniors! we'll see on 12th at your sharing day!!