CHALVEDON SECONDARY SCHOOL

CHALVEDON SECONDARY SCHOOL

At Chalvedon Secondary School I worked with 6th Form Students. I worked with them for two days, the first in the school and the second day in my Sculpture Studio in Laindon.

The first day was spent in the classroom showing my commercial work and talking about how design and sculpture has an important part to play in the every day world. I talked about production and running a business producing sculpture.

On the second day I invited the students down to my studio. The aim was to treat them like professional sculptors by taking them out of the school environment. I set them a challenge of creating a sculpture of a man and a woman that portrayed the stereotypical view of Basildon youth. The brief was to enjoy the construction using the materials provided. The work had to include humour and the ability to take the mickey out of Basildon youth. Their levels of concentration were very surprising and they threw themselves into the work with great gusto.

Before the end of the day they had to not only complete the work in the given time, but also to justify the work in a short critique and question and answer session. Their unflinching ability to laugh at themselves was to be commended.

The sculptures were fantastic and in all their enjoyment they said they actually learnt about timing, teamwork, materials and about themselves. Sometimes the sculpture is only the visual aspect of the work, but I feel the overall experience is the most important part of the artistic learning curve.

The newspapers were invited down to view the finished work, the school was proud of the 6th form students and the experience sparked some of the students into higher education studying art and design. The students and I thought the two days were well worth it.

THE BILLERICAY SECONDARY SCHOOL

THE BILLERICAY SECONDARY SCHOOL

The Year 11 Students at Billericay School had a project to decorate their Year 11 common room with a mural painting.

The work was to be done by the Year 11 students to enhance their space, make a statement, come up with a concept, develop designs and execute the work themselves. My part of the project was to help create inspiration, develop the ideas and design work and give practical techniques on painting and composition and work along side of them every step of the work.

The collaboration between the students was enthusiastic; the inspirational ideas were ambitious to say the least. The important thing was to keep the work achievable without letting the enthusiasm falter.
Sharing the work between all the participating students meant it came on in leaps and bounds. The total project took 2 weeks from concept to completion. All the students had great fun during the painting, learnt a lot and were proud of what they had achieved. This was a voluntary project; I was only reimbursed for the material I supplied.

JANET DUKE INFANT SCHOOL

JANET DUKE INFANT SCHOOL (YEARS R – 2) - showing the children my portfolio in slide form, drawing with the children and mould making hands, taking impressions using plaster paris and modrock bandage technique. The children always show a natural, honest enthusiasm.

MERRYLANDS PRIMARY SCHOOL

MERRYLANDS PRIMARY SCHOOL (YEARS 3 – 6) – taking groups of 40-60 children in the hall. Showing work in slide form. Talking to the children about the work and the individual projects. Then gave demonstrations on moulding techniques and casting in plaster of paris. They enjoyed me taking moulds off their hands and actively taking part in the mould making process. More projects planned for the future and, possibly, even a school entrance sculpture involving the children and their designs.

BASILDON COLLEGE

BASILDON COLLEGE – Visited the college to speak to students who were teacher training and students who were going on further to BA College. Demonstrated how sculpture, display, theatre and mould making has an important part in the future employment of the students.