ART AND ABOUT...

Local artist Sally Craig visited Withington on two occasions during the Spring Term. Sally led a millinery workshop for Year 9 pupils who created floral accessories of all shapes and sizes to embellish small top hats they had made previously. Year 8 pupils learnt several weaving techniques in their workshop and created vibrant designs using season-inspired colours. They will continue to work on these skills next term.

The WGS Knitting Club had a busy term creating Easter chicks and rabbits for Francis House Children’s Hospice. Each spring, the hospice asks for donations of these creations to fill with chocolate eggs to be sold at Easter to raise funds for the charity’s vital work. Thank you to our pupil, parent and staff knitters who have made such lovely woollen creatures.

The Art Department took the Year 11 GCSE Art pupils on an exciting and educational trip to Liverpool to visit the Walker and the Liverpool Art Galleries. Both venues provided ample critical and contextual reference material for pupils to collect a wealth of interesting visual recordings in the form of photographs, observational drawings, sketches, etc. All research gathered will be used as preparation work for their examination unit.

The group visited the different exhibitions in the two galleries including the Turner Prize exhibition at Tate Liverpool. They also benefited from a talk by gallery staff on the shortlisted artworks.

Year 10 GCSE artists enjoyed a skills workshop with ceramic artist Anastassia Zamaraeva who taught them some clay building and surface pattern techniques that will be useful in the next stage of their coursework when they design and create their own ceramic vessel. Anastassia shared her expertise and useful tips for working with clay, whilst helping pupils create mosaic tiles and vessels with facial features.

Year 13 A Level Art students visited the City of Light to explore the abundant art scene and experience the wealth of visual inspiration on offer in the French capital. As well as visiting the Musée d’Orsay and the Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris, there was much inspiration to be sought right across the city. From the grand palatial architecture to the modern industrial exterior of the Centre Pompidou, to the shopping districts that offered independent shops selling ceramics, to the take-over of the Louis Vuitton shop by Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama.

All of Year 7 visited the Whitworth Art Gallery on Thursday 30th March to enhance their skills, knowledge and understanding of Art and Design. The pupils took part in a two-hour practical workshop creating vibrant and colourful patterns influenced by the ‘Althea McNish: Colour is Mine’ exhibition - the first major retrospective of the first Caribbean designer to achieve international recognition and one of the most influential and innovative textile designers in the UK.

Pupils also enjoyed a gallery talk during which they got a closer look at specific artworks, and there was time for a self-directed tour in small groups around the Gallery. Throughout the visit, pupils sketched and made notes in their sketchbooks, drawing inspiration from around the Gallery.