Royal Grammar School – maturity, conviction and contemporary fossils

>

This is the second show today and both are marked by excellent life drawing. Perhaps it is not a coincidence that both schools (Sir William Ramsay and Royal Grammar School) use the Royal Academy ‘Life’ class. This has been going for many years and never fails to produce superb results. It adds imeasurably to portfolios and self confidence. I don’t know if many schools club together to share this resource, but it would certainly be worth it. I understand it is still relatively cheap and the class can accommodate up to 30 students.

This exhibition showed work from all year groups and it was fascinating to see the rigorous consistent thinking and values that have built this course and which ensure that first hand experience, rigorous self reflective enquiry and serious study of serious artists are hard wired into the experience for Yr 7 onwards . Rob (HoD) has been there for many years (I think we shared our first inspection – he as inspected and me as inspector) and there is a deep integrity to the work throughout the school which is a real strength. There is also a very clear commitment to sculpture throughout the programme. This gives rise to Yr 13 istallations and mixed media pieces in which ideas are easily and naturally shaped and presented in 3 dimensions with mature understanding and an ability to resolve technical issues with intelligence and imagination.

The GCSE work shows an emerging individuality and I loved the piece which explored contemporary fossils and a delightful small piece making a space from a book (see video). These are multilayered as well as multimedia pieces.

However, the Yr 13 work is superb. Again experience is tracked back to KS 4 where the process of deep, personal enquiry is first established. This is rooted in direct experience, reinforced through the annual field course where students are imersed in beaches and fields, rocks and trees. It seems that often this expereince leads to a recognition of art as a means to record real first hand experience, feeling and responses. There is a piece which explores ideas of sculpture as small disgarded fragments, each of which has marked key moments and turning points. This is a piece of genuine conviction and is, as a consequence, genuinely moving – it was good to see it and I won’t forget it. There are many other extra-ordinary pieces all marked by deep, extended personal enquiry and a fascination with materials. I think this is what makes them really sucessful there is a successful balance, or fusion really, between the idea and the material. It could not be other than it is. Often the journey is intriguing and extensive, for instance, from first hand experience of landscape to a technical piece in which boxes in boxes on gimballs (3 way hinges) respond to air movment (or fans in this case). By way of Fibonacci.

As I said to Rob, the work reminded me of why I wanted to be a teacher, and what I valued when I was a teacher. I recall residential trips always fuelled that year’s work and relationships – getting up at 4am to get to the beach – just in time to see the sun rise, brilliant.

This is the last of this year’s shows. I really enjoyed all of them. It was good to meet so many colleagues and friends and to share and celebrate their work and success.
http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=13412978&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=00adef&fullscreen=1

New ‘Life’ at Sir William Ramsay

>

The first screen as you enter the show at Sir William Ramsay (Specialist Art College) displays some of the best student life drawing I think I have ever seen. It was fortunate that I saw show with Richard (HoD) who confirmedthat it was drawn from first hand experience or I would have assumed it was a studious copy of professional drawing.

It was, as always, a large, high quality and interesting show and this year there are signs of new directions for the school. There was some really strong, simple, culpture which got to the heart of the materials being used – the dense heaviness of cement and the light natural rythmn of withies.

Some strong photographs once again confirm the general very noticeable increase in the role of photography. Here it is a mixture of wet and digital photography (tip 1. Good SLR film cameras are very cheap on e-bay)

 Textiles work is strong with intriguing stitched drawings and whimsical costumes. It was also good to read extended essays which were simply well written rather than just well decorated. (tip 2 for rusted fabrics wrap material soaked in vinegar in cling film with iron wool and heat. result is fast)

It was interesting to see year 9 students entered for the new short course. As the school entered students for the new specifications it was possible to get a sense of how things may be changing. It was felt that the new time limitations (45 hours) of the externally assessed test together with the new marking scheme does make it more difficult to achieve the higher grades. There may be some issues here for next year. I understand that SWR was one of only 15 schools that entered and assessed the short course using these specifications this year. It may be that this could suggest a change in pedagogy and preparation. Perhaps this is a discussion that should happen next term.
http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=13410047&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=00adef&fullscreen=1

>Corridors of Art – Wycombe High School

>

Really glad I came to this show as I haven’t been for a couple of years and Mark (Coombe) is moving on this year so it is his last exhibition. It is really impressive, with some brilliant large, loose, figurative painting and drawing. A good mix of styles from still life and portraits to strong issue based pieces exploring identity. This is the first time it has been held in the 6th form studios and the walk from reception to the studio is through corridors full of paintings. These are GCSE works and because the school always displays lots of painting it is a straight forward job to open the school as part of Bucks Open Studios. The stairwell to the studio is full of really big drawing and painting and the scale and quality is hugely impressive (see video).

The actual studio opens out onto the roof and has views over the valley. Highlights of this show, for me, are some of the big paintings especially the portraits there is a loose confidence about these works which is a delight. But I did enjoy a very intense enclosed installation stained with angst and conviction. Some students had developed images and ideas digitally and these were simply displayed on laptops alongside the larger work which was simple and effective. The open laptops fitting in seemlessly with the open sketchbooks in a way which seemed perfectly natural and unassuming.

Once again I find a new AS course in photography presenting some excellent photographs – intelligent, reflective and perceptive. The school has just acquired an A1 colour printer which provides high quality A1 prints. This does make a difference but Mark told me that some large branches of Tesco provide A1 digital prints for about £2.40 (less for bulk orders). In this girls’ grammar school this course was done as part of the ‘enrichment programme’ so the students had fewer taught lessons than a standard AS course.

Mark does a lot of examining and it was interesting to discuss the implications of the changes that are coming down the line. We talked of the fact that, these days, as most students use canvas and oil or acrylic, the quality of painting is infinitely better than it was only a few years ago when canvas was uncommon and redimix and paper was the norm.  We also noted the possibility that with the development of a new reduced curriculum, the possible loss of QCDA, BECTA, Levels, SIPs, TAs, Advisers, CPD and Uncle Tom Cobbly, it will be exams and examiners that will have to guard the flame and preserve what is important. Well that may not be such a bad thing – its where I came in.

It was good to meet the new Head of Art and I will look forward to next year’s show at Wycombe High School with interest.

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=13138589&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=00adef&fullscreen=1

Shakespeare and Summer at Holmer Green

>

This year there seems to be a real increase in photography and much of it high quality photography at that. Several schools have entered for the first time this year and are talking about increased numbers opting for it next year. At Holmer Green it was interesting to talk about ideas to offer photography and graphics next year. We noted that this blog/record of school exhibitions should be helpful in identifying those schools with useful expertise and experience – Waddesdon for graphics was one of the things we discussed. I really enjoyed the delightful seasonal booklet of photographs ‘Summer’s lease hath all too short a date‘. Its in the video and  shows really intelligent picture taking. It is noticeable that, for all the photographs seen, very few have just relied on Photoshop filters for effect. The work is usually rooted in good, perceptive picture taking: although photoshop is used to crop and enhance, of course.

Other intriguing pieces at Holmer Green were the sets of three or four very small canvases presented as a sequence of repeating icons. These miniatures are, quietly, effective and provide a really simple comentary on the work of other artists such as Julian Opie.

Sketchbooks and research projects continue to impress with the levels of knowledege and understanding of art and artists acquired by students at both GCSE and A Level. It is interesting to note the now common practice of using digital photographs as the research tool of choice for many. There can be very few sketchbooks these days which do not include digital photographs which form the basis of much recording and reflection by students.

It was also good to be able to talk to the headteacher wwho was at the exhibition.  Mr Jones was  there for a long time and clearly made a point of talking to students and their parents celebrating their success. His enthusiasm as always was palpable. You can’t help noticing that when senior leaders attend it does make a difference and that it doesn’t always happen.

Supremely confident at Stowe

I was lucky to get access to this A Level exhibition at Stowe School on Saturday morning, but, of course, these students and their teachers work on Saturdays, as well as the rest of the week. The work is extraordinarily sophisticated showing a real depth of understanding about the work of artists which underpins students’ own personal enquiry and research. This is working within a genre, but not ‘working in the style of‘. A key feature of all of the work here was the overwhelming quality and maturity of the painting.  It was really exciting to see so many large beautifully painted canvasses. They were painted with a reflective, self confident, fluidity which shows familiarity with good quality materials and with studio practice. But it was not all painting, I also found a second set of installations and the first prints I have seen in any of the shows visited so far.
A particulaly striking set of work was to be seen in the huge charcoal drawings done for AS Level. The investment in rolls of ‘double elephant‘ paper certainly pays off. The energy and scale of this work in year 12 must be important in underwriting the subsequent work and practice of students. The exhibition takes place in the school 6th form art studio’s with each student having their own bay to display their work.

 

Contemporary, and fine, art at the Royal Latin School

>

Spotted my first two 100% unadulterated installations this evening at the Royal Latin (see video). Both presented an enagaging and complex narrative and showed a confident understanding of contemporary practice they also smelled interesting (cigarrette butts and old wood and leaves). One, a  shed (coffin?) made of doors, was evocative, thought provoking and really impressive.

In the next room contemporary practice was balanced by studies from Caravagio and a Zeotrope (first created in China around 180 AD by the prolific inventor Ting Huan ). Then just balanced on a window frame was a tiny painting of a fragment or fragment of a painting which was a delight.

Talking to the headteacher (who had come to see the exhibition) we discussed house styles. It seems to me that this is less of a feature in many of the exhibitions I have seen this year. Indeed there are many similarities between schools. The large portrait is rather commonplace and most exhibitions seem to have some of these. Some schools do, of course, have particular strengths which successive generations of students do respond to. But there is little evidence of excessive teacher direction, or of work drawn exclusively from a narrow range of genres, or school of artists. One strength of the Royal Latin has been in the use of wire to define space. This year there is a delightful wire and butterfly piece (see video). Other sculpture invited you to lie down under a table to look at the stars.

This is serious and thoughtful work developed from the study of a wide range of artists ancient and modern. Students are also prepared to take risks. But they pay off. So it was good to hear about a student who I remember had made an wonderful sculpture – a ballet dress exhibited at MAD in 2007 – had just succeeded in getting a placement with Vivienne Westwood.

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=12702452&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1
Royal Latin Grammar School from Dan China on Vimeo.

Chalfonts all singing and dancing and thinking

>I’ve written alot about the digital work at Chalfonts before (for instance see Joe Benson’s work). But it is really interesting to see how much more powerful some of these films are when projected onto a big screen (soft canvas with a nice texture) with a good sound system rather than on a small monitor. 

But the fine art work reminds me again of the way this department requires students to take risks and to think deeply about their work. I was talking to Greg about a student’s work, noting her references to Vygotski and identity, while looking at her sketchbook page with drawings and photos of her father shaving his legs in the shower. This work really was deeply inquisitive about identity and explored sexual identity with an honest frankness. Elsewhere are some big mournful self portraits as well, but these are moderated by other portraits with jaunty references to self identity and gender stereotyping.

Another characteristic of work in this school is the way that they translate special studies into quirky imaginative pieces – a scroll rolled up, sealed and placed in a high heeled shoe is one. The special study about graffitti is produced as the labels for spray cans with the different colour cans becoming different chapters. But there are more – boxes and artefacts showing curiousity, imagination and humour.

As I write this discretely at the back of the gallery, the teachers and students are giving out prizes and certificates – everyone gets a prize. Its a real celebration and it is good to be here.

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=12700813&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=ff9933&fullscreen=1
A Level Art EXHIBITION 2010

A small exhibition at John Colet

>A small exhibition, not because of the quantity and scale of the work, but because it all had to be exhibited in a small art room.  Building works made space a premium in the school so no other suitable space was available. But art teachers do make do. So desktop screens were made and painted and work was mounted cheerfully.

It was interesting to be at the start of something and to meet the first student in the school to do photography. She had made a fascinating photograph of the London Eye – part photograph, part sculpture. I understand that next year there will be many more students opting for photography. So it will be interesting to see that grow, although the department is wrestling with ways to resource it. A couple of old, small computers and Photoshop Elements may not be sufficient, and a teacher’s personal laptop will only go so far. Despite the narrow confines of the exhibition, I did enjoy some fine painting and research books, especially a page devoted to Frank Auerbach.

Talking of the study of art I wonder if the success of the Tate Modern is in any way a consequence of the fact that the national curriculum has brought in the study of art and artists at every age, and all children now leave school knowing what art is and something about what an artist does. Study at 6th form level, as shown here, increasingly provides evidence of a rich understanding of the role of art and artists in our society. I do hope the deconstructing of the curriculum does not undo this.

A large exhibition at John Hampden

>

It is always big here. The department consistently produces really strong, large, robust paintings. I always enjoy these, its a boys school and it shows. So its not quite Jenny Saville more Euston Road. Both of these big confident canvasses are by the same student. The studies were wonderful as well, some really finely controlled line and others with the same robust confident brushwork.  (see the online gallery)

There is a really strong tradition of drawing and mark making here. Every year the school takes part in the Royal Academy life drawing programme. Some of this work is remarkable for the confident fluidity and quality of the lines. This year there was also some intriguing sculptural model making (see in the video) It seems to be a secondary theme for many of the exhibitions I have seen. Quirky, curious sculptures were also seen at Misbourne and Amersham yesterday and at Sir Henry Floyd and Waddesdon. The other main theme this year is large portraits and here there was a wonderful set of three very large, unstretched, hanging canvases with a softly stained face – rather Turin shroud like. Unfortunately I could not get a picture as they were hung behind screens-but if the school would like to send me one it would be good to put in the online gallery. 

Rich textiles (and shakespeare) at Highcrest

>

I have known Highcrest School for 15 years and have ‘Ofsteded’ it twice. However, I have not visited for a couple of years now – not since the current teachers took up post. It was a real joy to see the transformation in the work. There was an almost 50% improvement in A*-C grades last year and this show was remarkable for the confident, accomplished and fully commited work by students. The quality of the craftsmanship (womanship) and attention to detail is excellent as you can see from the images here. All students presented work which was very carefully finished supported by well researched and intelligent investigation. Some of the textiles based work was a delight and some of this showed a richness and depth which was a million miles away from the work I recall seeing there years ago. A huge improvement. 

I know that the school has received excellent support from an AST from Sir William Ramsay school. Staff generously acknowledge this influence and well done to Annie.

II

I suspect her influence will be felt here and in other schools she has worked in for some time to come. Annie is now working in Hertfordshire so lucky Hertfordshire. But was intriguing to see the cultural references with rich textiles used purposefully to make an intellectual point and the video shows an illuminated book of poems, including Shakespeare … season of mists and mellow fruitfulness.

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=12708823&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=00adef&fullscreen=1