DAVID NEWBATT AT GLASSHOUSE COLLEGE

On Friday 8th October, Glasshouse and Argent College students and staff had the opportunity to work alongside artist and storyteller David Newbatt. David is an artist and teacher who lives and works at a Camphill Community for young adults with special needs in Aberdeen, Scotland.

David works in a wide variety of media, mainly using watercolours, pastels or acrylics. His work over the years has included illustrating a variety of different stories, including Goethe’s fairy tale The Green Snake and the Beautiful Lily, the Norwegian poem of Olaf Åsteson Eros and Fable, and work on the story of Parzival. The focus of the workshop was around the story of Wolfram von Eschenbach’s Parzival, a young boy who is kept isolated in a forest by his mother as a way of protecting him from the world and avoiding the risk of him becoming caught up in battle and killed, the fate his father met as a Knight. As the years pass, Parzival eventually becomes curious about the world and eventually meets a group of Knights, leaving the forest in search of his destiny and an interest in becoming a Knight at King Arthur’s Round Table.

On his journey, he encounters many challenges, meets many people, and faces the question - what ails me? Students and staff engaged productively,

The project had a real collaborative feel, staff and students from Glasshouse College and Argent college took part in the workshop

ART STORYTELLING ARTHUR PARZIVAL

showing both independence and team skills as well as their artistic talents as painters. Following the workshop, David then told some of the story, using illustrations, to the college to conclude the day and then to a public audience in the evening.

David’s visit was a wonderful way to re-introduce the theme of King Arthur and Parzival into the college year. Over Whitsun 2022, students and staff across Ruskin Mill Trust will perform and tour Peter Oswald’s play Arthur.

Justin Scriven Drama Tutor and Director

Above: A section of the battle scene

A student from Glasshouse College adding the maiden to the scene

What our students think

"The painting experience was awesome!"

Caitlin, Glasshouse College student

"I enjoyed the painting, I liked the whole thing about Parzival."

Henry, Glasshouse College student

"Working with a professional artist was amazing. I enjoyed painting the battle scenes between the Knights."

Dan, Glasshouse College student

"I was good and fun. I met lots of new people!"

Renee, Argent College student