*no rules apply
Throughout Summer Term 2015 Stanley Picker Gallery have been collaborating with King Athelstan Primary School in Kingston upon Thames to deliver a weekly Art Club for children from mixed classes across year’s 3, 5 and 6.
Art Clubbers: Anser, Archie, Basma, Emma, Falisha, James, Jelena, Kelsie, Layla, Malakai, Melissa, Nicky, Raphael, Rucy, Stevie, Talia and Zoie
During the programme, with workshops tailored to meet the interests and requirements of individual groups, the young artists named above have been learning about contemporary artist and designers practice, influences and creative processes, while sharing their individual interpretations, ideas and personal preoccupations through free-writing, drawing, collage and discussion. Each artist chose an area to ‘research’ further ranging from the design and destruction of nature, to the mind of a minecraft gamer, our emotional connection to sound to physical negotiation of a basketball court. A mid-project showcase, titled Research Room, revealed a selection of the artworks created and ‘research’ undertaken so far – including sketches, sculpture, notes and noise.
Following Research Room, artist have continued to realise their ideas and creative ambitions through embroidery, observational drawing, construction of interactive art objects and study of contemporary art books (recommended by the art and design librarians at Kingston University)
Alongside contemplation of their personal practice, art clubbers visited Streetscape – Stanley Picker Fellow in Design Fabien Cappello’s vibrant new installation of protoype street furniture, presented both within the Gallery and experimental situ around Kingston town centre. We made a special trip to the 3D workshops 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 lucky enough to watch the new plasma laser cutter in action! Later, the group returned to explore the 2015 Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture Degree Show where they researched ideas for presentation of their own works. Particular highlights included Illustration, Product Design and Fine Art.
Slideshow of our adventures (snapped by members of the club when we found the time to pick up a camera!)
Slideshow of 10 minute collages depicting nanoseconds captured during free writing.
King Athelstan is a two-form entry community primary that teaches children to ‘take risks and ask brilliant questions’ – and very popular with use at the Gallery, have named each of their classes after artists. The artists who are exhibiting in The Lobby at Stanley Picker Gallery are all members of Ultimate Art Club, which is supported by Class 5 (Van Gogh) teacher Laura Meggitt and TA, Miss Tietz. It is the ambition of all to continue Art Club through the academic year 2015-16, with current members setting the example of free-thinking and open minded exploration to new additions to the group!