Workshops for Schools

Big Draw at Carclew

Throughout June 2012 students from four DECD schools (Adelaide Secondary School of English, Scott Creek Primary, Cowandilla Primary and Klemzig Primary) participated in the Big Draw at Carclew house as part of Book Week.

Led by artists James Parker and John Whitney with assistance from emerging artist Katie Barber and Project Coordinator Ella Pak Poy the day-long workshops introduced students to a range of drawing techniques and mediums.

Prior to participating in the workshops, teachers introduced their students to the E.E. Cummings poem, 'Maggie and Milly and Molly and May' and asked them to think about what they might pick up on the beach. This pre-workshop thinking inspired the beautiful works created during the workshops.

Exhibition

The students’ collective artworks were compiled into four unique giant books and were on display at the State Library of South Australia in September/October 2012. With a number of events in the city during that period over 25,000 people saw the exhibition.

Congratulations to all of the schools and the artists and thanks to the staff at the State Library for their support.

Big Draw @ Carclew

During June 2012 students from four DECD schools participated in the Big Draw at Carclew house.

Led by artists James Parker and John Whitney with emerging artist Katie Barber and Project Coordinator Ella Pak Poy the Big Draw workshops introduced the students to a range of drawing techniques and mediums.

Each of the four school groups - Adelaide Secondary School of English, Scott Creek Primary, Cowandilla Primary and Kelmzig Primary - were inspired by an E.E. Cummings poem, Maggie and Milly and Molly and May drawing all things 'beach' related. At the end of each of the four days the collective works were incorporated into four unique giant books to be on display in each of the schools.

Feedback

‘They LOVED it! The children were so engaged that they went back to their drawing during break time. The teachers were able to get the most out of it because the children were so happy and focused on what they were producing.  It was an exceptional experience for our students (many of whom could not afford specialist art lessons). Thank you for the opportunity…’ Principal, Cowandilla Primary School

Big Draw - Open Access College

During 2011/12 Carclew Arts & Education, through its Big Draw project has been able to offer a series of one-off workshops to students and teachers. Workshops have catered for a range of requests including professional development for staff groups.

Carclew's Big Draw artists, James Parker and John Whitney spent a day with 30 Yr 5-9 students at Open Access College as part of their 'Come In Day' activities. The majority of these students are home-schooled via the College online system and coming to the campus, once a term is something they look forward to.

The students learned a number of drawing techniques using a range of mediums with mono-printing being the main focus.

It was an extremely successful day with positive comments from students, teachers and parents.

Feedback

'I just liked everything really- especially the printing- that was cool (Ryan- Year 5) ... I loved drawing sea shells (Willow- Year 7) ... It was fun because I hadn’t ever done anything like that before (Katie- Year 7) ... It was great to see and speak to such talented and knowledgeable artists (Benzy – Year 7)' Students

'The activities were flexible so it enabled the students to be extended or modified if necessary. One example, was that a boy that has ‘Asperger’s’ only usually draws cars. The artists worked with him and recognised that he liked cars, but also showed him a skull - he loved it! ... The students overall comments were that it was ‘fun’ and that they liked trying something new. Many of our students don’t get to do a lot of Art, being an online classroom, so they thoroughly enjoyed the day.' Teacher

'They were really good with the kids and walked around and interacted with them with encouragement to try new things. When we got home he rushed into show his Dad.' Parent

Big Draw - Yorke Peninsula

In 2010 Carclew and Murray Bridge North Schools partnered to deliver the Big Journal – Big Draw Creative Education Partnership – an intensive artist residency with a focus on drawing. The 5-week residency was lead by highly-skilled and experienced visual artists, James Parker and John Whitney and went on to win the international Drawing Inspiration Award (Campaign for Drawing, U.K.).

The artists and Arts & Education Program Manager, Leigh Mangin felt strongly that the award money would be put to good use by offering the Big Draw experience to regional schools with limited access to these types of arts experiences.

As part of the annual Arts Blast program, the team planned a week-long tour to two schools on the Yorke Peninsula, in November 2011. James and John developed and lead two days of intensive workshop activity with Yr 4 – 7 students at Curramulka Primary followed by three days at Yorketown Area School with a group of Yr 7 -10 students with a keen interest in drawing.

The Big Draw workshops at each of the two schools were tailored to each of the groups and included a diverse variety techniques and mediums: dry-pointing, sketching, collage, mono-printing, rubbings and Japanese-style bookmaking. Students at Curramulka explored the theme of their township and in Yorketown the secondary students explored the local environment while recording and interpreting significant flora.

A highly successful and rewarding week packed with great arts and education outcomes - for the students, teachers and artists.

 Feedback

'The school felt very lucky to have such a sophisticated, yet accessible program here at Curramulka. A privaledge, thank you!' 
Principal, Curramulka Primary School

'...it [the project] further reinforced our commitment to spreading the word...the importance of drawing for everyone.' John Whitney (artist)

'The kids at Curramulka Primary were very proud and excited to show John and I their town... the small aspects were just as important as the vast horizon and were just as interesting to draw. The kids instilled in their drawings something of that - the bigness and smallness of Curry...' 
James Parker (artist)

Home is Where the Art Is

Home is Where the Art Is, a Big Draw program, was held in March 2011 at Carclew as part of the Come Out Festival.

The workshops provided opportunities for almost 100 Year 5/6 students from Eden Hills Primary, Mawson Lakes School and Magill Primary to participate in day-long visual arts workshops with professional artists, James Parker and John Whitney.

Inspired by the Come Out theme of Belonging, students utilised an array of visual arts techniques and mediums (many recycled) to create their own distinctive dioramas - 'a modelled miniature world where their favourite things and wildest imaginations co-exist'. The students created everything from imagined worlds in space to their favourite sports activities and a popular choice with many was an artistic representation of their favourite room at home.

At the conclusion of the workshops, the artists wove their magic, building almost 100 dioramas to shape a dramatic installation in the DECS Centre Gallery, which was on display for the duration of the Come Out Festival.

Home is Where the Art Is workshops offered a unique opportunity for the participating students to spend a day at magnificent Carclew house – the perfect setting for creating and making.

‘Home is Where the Art Is’ was a highly valuable program to have my class involved in. It was very beneficial when the artists visited our school and shared art work, giving students and myself a strong headset of what we needed to do to prepare for the day. The students were fully engaged and the whole day workshop was extremely well organised with ample resources and support for the students who all produced work to their full potential. Thank you.’
Teacher, Mawson Lakes School

When Will I Grow Wings?

When Will I Grow Wings? was a creative learning experience for Year 5/6 students from SA schools, which culminated in an exhibition at the Adelaide Festival Centre during Come Out 2013.

Four schools participated in visual arts and poetry workshops, facilitated by a team of talented teaching artists. Visual artists Sally Heinrich, James Parker and Katie Barber along with spoken word artist Amelia Walker, mentored participating students through an artistic process inspired by the Come Out theme of Dreaming the Future.

Prior to the workshops, Amelia visited each of the four schools to undertake poetry writing workshops with the students. Each school then visited Carclew house to work with Sally, James. Katie and Amelia and spent a day drawing, making and writing.

An exhibition of the work created by the students was enjoyed by visitors to the Adelaide Festival Centre Space Theatre Foyer during Come Out 2013.

Schools:
Prospect Primary School
Woodville Gardens School B-7
South Downs Primary School
Littlehampton Primary School
Richmond Primary School (poetry workshops only)

Please contact Leigh Mangin on 8230 1118 for information on other Arts & Education opportunities.