Our own 'Two Frida's'

Knitting and yarn bombing by year 11 textile students 👏🏻😀

Year 11 treats

Year 11's have been making some fantastic work during their mocks this week.  Miss Kench's Visual Arts class have been creating some wonderful personal responses inspired by Grayson Perry's 'Who are you?' Exhibition that was on at the National Portrait gallery a while back.

This is one of many highly thoughtful and skilful responses by the amazingness that is Akhera Williams. More to follow! 

Kaffe Fassett talks about yarn bombing and other stuff

http://www.hud.ac.uk/news/2015/february/world-famousdesignerkaffefassettmettextilesnewgeneration.php

Some wonderful collages created by some of our lovely year 7's

Recent delightful discovery yarn bomber Magda Sayeg

http://www.magdasayeg.com/untitled-gallery

Go and see William Eggleston at the NPG!

Click here for more information

Art Specialist. Some highlights.

2015-2016

Trip to 'The New Art Centre' at Roche Court in Wiltshire.

One of the departments highlights last year was travelling by coach to the wonderful Roche Court, with the whole of our Art Specialist cohort. We knew it was going to be a good day as we drove up towards the beautiful ninetieth-century house, surrounded by beautiful parkland; a lovely little escape from the hustle and bustle of South London. We were led, by the fantastic and very knowledgable staff, on an interactive tour around the sculptures that engaged our students to think critically about the work, as well as visually record what they were looking at. The centre commented that they were really impressed by how responsive and positive our students were, another reason for us to feel PROUD of our students.  Some of our personal highlights were sculptures by Anthony Gormley, Anthony Caro and Richard Long. 

'Afterlife'

Another fantastic opportunity our Art Specialists had earlier this year was working with author Tracy Ogali, to illustrate her wonderful story 'Afterlife'.   'Afterlife' is a story about coming to terms with loss for young adults, as told through its main characters a fox and a butterfly.  It beautifully deals with the complex feelings and emotions connected with bereavement and both the teachers and students felt incredibly moved by the story.  It was a joy to illustrate; the pupils constantly inspired by the journey and the characters the fox meets long the way.  Facilitating the collaboration process between Tracy and the students was a real pleasure and we thank Tracy for providing our students with a taste of what it is like to work as an illustrator.
On Wednesday 13th July 2016, Miss Kench and one of the illustrators, Akhera Williams, went to London Live studios for an interview about the book with Tracy and her son Kayne, a former CGA student.  Akhera very eloquently spoke about her involvement in the process and it was all very exciting! Click here to watch the interview. 

What the students said:

'The story makes me think about the importance of life and that you should live life like there's no tomorrow.  If they're gone you need to love but forget and forgive.' Kayley

'To come up with the ideas for my illustrations I found stanzas that resonated with me and literally drew what came to mind. The poetic words really assisted me in doing this.' Antonia

'My favourite part in the story is when the fox meets the other animals and all share their true belief in the meaning of life.' Eliska

'It was amazing being given a brief but yet having so much artistic freedom simultaneously.' Akhera

Here are some of the wonderful illustrations by our very talented students. 

Akhera

Talha

Antonia

Hannah                                                                    Tiarnon

Paperworks Workshop

Paperworks Studio is run by Eleanor Shakespeare and Emily Nash. They are both freelance illustrators working in the creative industry. 'We see the value in giving students the opportunity to work alongside young practising artists. From experience, we know the positive impact it can have on their outlook towards the creative arts'

Students were introduced to the works of the two freelance artists and then the students participated in an artist workshop which developed their skills and understanding of collage and photomontage to create surreal landscapes. The students worked in groups to produce their creative outcomes.

​

2016-17

Things to look forward to. 

The whole Art Specialist cohort will be venturing outside of London once more in the Spring term for a residential to St. Ives in Cornwall. We will be visiting The Eden Project, The Lost Garden of Heligan, The Tate, The Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden and participating in drawing and making workshops inspired by the beach and the surrounding landscape. Through these activities we look forward to our pupils engaging with Art inspired by this unique and beautiful part of the country.  Watch this space for further information. 

Battersea Park Temporary Sculptural Pavilion 

collaboration project!

Architect Studio 'dallas pierce quintero' are managing a commission, funded by developers St William, for a temporary outdoor pavilion in Battersea Park.  The project will be developed through a unique collaboration between themselves, The Pump House Gallery and some of our very own Art Specialist students! The intention is for the pavilion to be used for two summers in 2017-18, as a temporary pop-up space in Battersea Park. Whilst in the park, the pavilion will be programmed by Pump House Gallery to provide activities and events for the public.  Central to the project is the desire to inspire young people about the role that art and design can play in changing their built environment.The projects seeks to introduce our pupils to professional artists/designers and structural engineers and highlight some of the career paths open to those interested in Art and Design.  An artist and a structural engineer will work with our students from inception to completion. Workshops will take place in school and on site, more information to follow! 

Art Specialist Programme 2016-17

Autumn Term - Year 7-9

We are going to be getting very crafty this term in the run up to the seasonal break.  We will be running a Craft Market at the Winter concert and hopefully at a local trading market, tbc!  Pupils will be making contemporary ceramics, textiles and jewellery.  

Spring/Summer Term - Year 7

• Thread art - Pupils will learn a range of textile and stitching techniques. They will learn to navigate sewing machines, create sewn illustrations as well as cross stitch.  Pupils will take  inspiration from a range of contemporary Textile artists. 
• Pattern and Print Design.  

Spring/Summer Term - Year 8

• Spaghetti towers and Building bridges. Students will explore sculptural techniques and learn how to create strong free standing structures with everyday materials.
• Enormous Coil Pots - Pupils will learn how to build from clay using the coiling technique.  Pupils will then look at the work of Grayson Perry to embellish their pots with their own narratives. 

Spring/Summer Term - Year 9

• Totes Amaze - Screen Printing onto Tote bags! Pupils will learn a range of screen printing techniques and one outcome will be a bag they can take on their summer holidays. 
• Make your own sketchbook.  Pupils will create their own handmade sketchbook and learn how to compose and best present their work! 

Weaving Wonders

My addiction to weaving began when I was looking for inspiration for our already slightly overcrowded walls.  As my partner’s eyes rolled back at the prospect of yet another craft market, I excitedly skipped up to the Crafty Fox market with a little bit of 'I shouldn't be spending any money but I know I'm going to want to buy EVERYTHING' adrenaline. 

It was here, in and amongst all the stalls of handmade delights, that I was greeted by a warm and wide smile from Lucy of Peas & Needles and her small but perfectly formed weaves.  It turns out Lucy is an all round weave, ceramic put her hand to anything extraordinaire and I quickly signed up to a workshop, where she would show I and other eager students, how to weave wonders. 

A couple of weeks later, me and my friend Katie, met on a bright sunny day at Look Mum No Hands and for one blissful afternoon learnt a range of weaving techniques and lingo.  I began by franticly photographing every little stage, for fear of forgetting any vital information.  However, by the time I'd threaded the loom, learnt the warp from the weft and completed a few rows of the Soumac,I relaxed into a rhythm, only broken by the very difficult decision of what lovely yarn I was going to use next! And that was it.  Addiction to weaving had begun!  I got straight on to Pinterest and spent hours getting drawn in by the never ending thread of weaving possibilities.  From wall hangings the size of windows, to tiny weave pendent necklaces, to woven skirts and plant pots, it seemed everyone was at it!

So if everyone was at it, then I simply had no choice.  I had to create a weaving project, not only because I wanted to make more weaves myself (!) but as a teacher of 19 fierce and fabulous textiles students, I knew they would love it too.

We began with small, handmade cardboard looms and with the help of our wonderful DT department, graduated to larger wooden looms.  We all started as beginners but with the help of each other, online tutorials, time to play and experiment, we all progressed into weavers, I think, the WI would be proud of!  Maryanne Moodie's beautiful creations became the student’s main source of inspiration and a range of brightly coloured designs followed. Not only were my student's weaves a sign of success but so too their consistent focus and enthusiasm. A couple even asked to take a loom home and another proudly sent a picture of hers to Moodie and was quietly chuffed when she got a reply!

Creating, alongside my students, only confirmed to me what is so great about weaving; it's accessible to everyone, it's a challenge yet achievable and the repetitive nature of it, allows your mind to wonder of to sort out other stuff in your life.  You also get something beautiful at the end of it that you can put on your wall or wrap up and feel smug when you show up to a friend’s birthday with a handmade present!

With the end of term in sight and the summer holiday fast approaching, I started to dream about the sun, clear blue seas and the many possibilities the luxury of a 6 week holiday can offer.  Scrolling through Instagram on the bus home, I saw Knit Wit had posted a lovely photo of a colourful tuk tuk, hashtagging; 'adventure, weaving, dyeing, friendship, Guatemala'.  Whhattt! My eyes lit up, excitement filled my belly and I spent the next couple of hours researching everything about what turned out to be, a week long weaving trip in Guatemala, aka, Sarah's dream holiday! Led by Thread Caravan and the creative vision of its founder, Caitlin, I began to admire everything about the fair trade conscious company.  The website design is beautiful and fresh, the promo. videos look like a dream and the ethical values and efforts in contributing to the livelihoods of artisans in the countries the trips take place are admirable.

Caitlin also turns out to be as lovely and selfless as the ethos of Thread Caravan and after chatting over several e-mails pointed me towards lots of other inspirational enterprises like Maya Traditions, Uxibal and Luna Zorro.

So, while I hope that my next post will detail my adventures in Guatemala and will feature next years cohort of textiles students enjoying the process of weaving, I'll carry on weaving wonders for my nearest and dearest, whether they like it or not!