Throughout Autumn/Winter Term 2015 to present, Stanley Picker Gallery have been collaborating with Epsom Primary to deliver a weekly Art Club for children from mixed classes across year’s 3, 4 and 5.
Art Clubbers: Aaron, Gracie, Joseph, Kamran, Ringo, Samuel, Thayna and Thomas.
During the programme, with workshops tailored to meet the interests and requirements of individual groups, the young artists named above have been learning about historical and contemporary artists’ and designers’ practice, influences and creative processes, while sharing their personal interpretations, ideas and preoccupations through free-writing, drawing, collage, hand on making and animated discussion. These experiences are being recorded for individuals Explore level Arts Award, a new branch of the arts-based qualification accredited by Trinity College London.
Club members made a special visit to the artist studios, library and workshops at Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture at Kingston University, where many of the Gallery’s Fellows experiment and make their work, alongside students. This was very exciting and to top it off we were able to handle recently 3D printed objects! We were also very lucky as we encountered many artist and designers in the process of making work – including past Stanley Picker Fellow Richard Trupp whose site-specific bronze works sit outside the Stanley Picker Gallery. Art clubbers seized the opportunity to share their ideas and ask lots of questions!
Club members then visited Stanley Picker Gallery where they explored current exhibition, Charlotte Bergson: The Hunters of the Invisible – a unique display alchemical research and mixed media contemporary practice and a publication, all staged within the ‘Zone’ a parallel meta-fictional world, conjoured by curator and artist, Neilsen. Particular highlights for the group included archival presentation, large-scale photographic works and ‘intriguing’ hidden messages and codes.
Inspired, Art Club – under the guise of Epsom Hunting Society (EHS) – have been delving conceptually into the realm of artistic, historical and scientific research, staged within a world parallel to our own for which they have collaboratively conjured alternate and fantastical narratives that connect and explain their society member’s findings. These findings – artefacts and documentation relating to various mysteries of the physical universe – will be exhibited as part of a special archival display, curated by Art Club, at Kingston History Centre on March 17 2016, 4-7pm. All are invited to seize the opportunity for a rare glance into this secretive society’s research.
EHS Society Members: Diego, Thayna, Jacob (aka Spooky Jacob), Pippi, Detective Lollypop, Jamzil, Sir Benjamin Morack Icarvinra.
EHS term of membership spans a remarkable 3334 years dating from Pippi, an active member exploring the antipodean jungle while London burned in 1666, time-weaving law enforcers of the late 1700’s Jacob and Detective Lollypop, to present day explorer Diego and ‘future recruit’ Jamzil (5000AD), along with German scientist, Sir Benjamin Morack Icarvinra who from his base in 1960’s Russia, utilises green quantum core processor to traverse multiple-dimensions, place bets (to keep EHS afloat) and along with his collegues, alien-origin technology to locate and translate ancient texts and secret messages.
Epsom Primary is a two-form entry community school that aims to foster a protective and inclusive environment for everyone to learn, develop and create ambition and ‘to equip children with the social skills and academic ability they need to be able to make choices in their future lives.’ All at Stanley Picker Gallery feel that they are doing a sterling job! The artists who are exhibiting in The Lobby at Stanley Picker Gallery are all members of Art Club, which is supported by Year 2 teacher, SENco specialist and Kingston University graduate, Lauren Demeza. It is the ambition of all to continue Art Club and Arts Awards through the academic year 2016, with current members setting the example of free-thinking and open minded exploration to any new additions to the group!