Artspark! Year 1 – Artists in the community

Artspark! Year 1 – Artists in the community

27 Jul 2015, Posted by kate_mercer in Out & About

Hello folks,

This month saw the end to the first year of Artspark! in Caerphilly, which those of you who have read my blog posts before may be familiar with. An updated selection from all the workshop sessions are now available on my updated Artspark! portfolio page visible here –> https://katemercer.co.uk/portfolio_page/artspark/

We’ve been all over South Wales to places like Sherman Cymru in Cardiff, to The Factory in Porth, The Winding House in Tredegar, the enigmatic Caerphilly Castle, gone behind the scenes at the newly renovated Newbridge Memorial Hall (MEMO) and run riot around Blackwood Miners Institute. It’s been hard work just keep up! Just as importantly, Artspark! has been a great opportunity to meet and find out about artists working in their communities, as well as discovering the terrific work they’re doing. Below you’ll find photos of just some of the tutors, professionals and artists who have been apart of this project.

Previously I’ve talked before about how relationships and interaction between young people with practising artists is important because it allows them to develop their art with others their age as well as introducing them to groups, clubs or organisations that can support them in following their interests further. Recently I’ve realised it’s equally important as it has allowed these children to experience the commitment and work process behind delivering projects too.

For example, Lee John Phillips’ #theshedproject taught the children the importance of patience, tenacity, attention to detail – yes they each had the freedom to choose objects that were interesting them to draw, but they did so according to strict ‘visual guidelines’ to create work that has a shared experience with his work. Another example would be Jem Treay’s dance workshop at Blackwood Miners Institute which particularly challenged the Artsparker’s because they had to explore the way they used their body to tell a specific narrative, that of the oil painting ‘The Raft of the Medusa’ by Théodore Géricault (1819); their viewpoint switched from being involved in a dance to thinking about what that dance might actually look like to an audience member.

Through direct interactions between young people and artists, their understanding of what art and being an artist could mean becomes more focused. The idea of WHY becomes just as integral to the artwork they create as it’s execution. These sessions aren’t just about extra-curricular stimulation for creative students; the influence these experiences have on these Artsparkers! produce artwork later on down the line will be invaluable when they start thinking about authorship and process when they create artwork that is initiated by them.

It’s been an absolute pleasure to see how much these children have developed in the last year through taking part with Artspark! and I can’t wait for the second session to start again in September. More posts will follow then – until then, here’s a shout out to just some of the artists inspiring the next generation in Wales.

Take care, Kate x

GB. Wales, Caerphilly Castle. Artist John Selway taking Artsparkers taking around the exhibition 'Keep' by the 56 Group at Caerphilly castle and discussing the artwork on show. 2014. © Kate Mercer / https://katemercer.co.uk

GB. Wales, Caerphilly Castle. Artist John Selway taking Artsparkers taking around the exhibition ‘Keep’ by the 56 Group at Caerphilly castle and discussing the artwork on show. 2014. © Kate Mercer / https://katemercer.co.uk

GB, WALES. Blackwood Miners Institute. Artspark! drama group warm up for musical theatre workshop with Gemma Woolley. 2014. © Kate Mercer / https://katemercer.co.uk

GB, WALES. Blackwood Miners Institute. Artspark! drama group warm up for musical theatre workshop with Gemma Woolley. 2014. © Kate Mercer / https://katemercer.co.uk

MEK20150221-IMG_2639

GB, WALES. Sherman Cymru. Artsparkers work through movement exercises led by tutor Cêt Haf. 2015. © Kate Mercer / https://katemercer.co.uk

MEK20150221-IMG_2862

GB, WALES. Sherman Cymru. Creative Learning Associate Andrew Sterry during Artspark! behind the scenes tour at Sherman Cymru. 2015. © Kate Mercer / https://katemercer.co.uk

MEK20150221-IMG_2866

GB, WALES. Sherman Cymru. Artsparkers work through movement exercises led by tutor Jonathan Floyd. A potentially rowdy workshop, Johnathan worked through execrises to encourage the students posture, coordination and control. 2015. © Kate Mercer / https://katemercer.co.uk

MEK20150228-IMG_2932

GB, WALES. Zoom Cymru, Porth. Artsparkers work through exercises with tutor Alice Corner. 2015. © Kate Mercer / https://katemercer.co.uk

MEK20150321-IMG_3123

GB, WALES. The Winding House, New Tredegar. Artsparkers meet artist Lee John Phillips, whose talks to the children about his current artwork, #theshedproject where he is drawing every item in his grandfather’s tool shed by hand to actual size. As part of todays workshop, the children will be copying Lee’s technique and create line drawings from a selection of tools brought from this shed. 2015. © Kate Mercer / https://katemercer.co.uk

MEK20150613-IMG_3414

GB, WALES. Memo Newbridge Memorial Hall. Using the story lines and writing techniques gone over by Mark Williams, the group work on writing their down their own stories. Afterwards, the Artsparkers will read aloud and share what they’ve written with the rest of the group. Mark Williams remains on hand to offer helpful tips and advice as they bring together their ideas 2015. © Kate Mercer / https://katemercer.co.uk

MEK20150704-IMG_3593

GB, WALES. Caerphilly Castle. Rubin Eynon with his work in the castle, this time the tower of Caerphilly castle, telling the stories of King Edward II, Queen Isobel, Hugh Le Despenser and Roger de Mortimer and their role in the history of Caerphilly Castle. 2015. © Kate Mercer / https://katemercer.co.uk

MEK20150704-IMG_3647

GB, WALES. Caerphilly Castle. Using photos Rubin provided showing the stages of his sculptures, Jane Rees-Parfitt shows Artparkers! how to build their own faces out of clay maquettes telling their own stories in the style of the heads in one of Caerphilly Castle’s towers. For many of the group, this will be the first time they have used clay. 2015. © Kate Mercer / https://katemercer.co.uk

MEK20150705-IMG_3883

GB, WALES. Blackwood Miners Institute. Led by Cardiff based actors Morgan Thomas and Sherrall Morris, the Artsparkers in the drama group explore also explore how to tell narratives through movement rather than through spoken word. This prooved quite a challenge for a traditionally lively group. 2015. © Kate Mercer / https://katemercer.co.uk

MEK20150705-IMG_3912

GB, WALES. Blackwood Miners Institute. Led by Cardiff based actors Morgan Thomas and Sherrall Morris, the Artsparkers in the drama group explore also explore how to tell narratives through movement rather than through spoken word. Part of their workshop explored how movement and interation with others was an important part of this. 2015. © Kate Mercer / https://katemercer.co.uk

GB, WALES. Blackwood Miners Institute. A still frame from the Artspark! drama group as they use moevement to imitate scenes from 'The Raft of the Medusa' by Théodore Géricault (1819). Jem Treays is on hand to give them expert guidance and develop their work. 2015. © Kate Mercer / https://katemercer.co.uk

GB, WALES. Blackwood Miners Institute. A still frame from the Artspark! drama group as they use moevement to imitate scenes from ‘The Raft of the Medusa’ by Théodore Géricault (1819). Jem Treays is on hand to give them expert guidance and develop their work. 2015. © Kate Mercer / https://katemercer.co.uk

GB, WALES. Memo Newbridge Memorial Hall. After a hasty edit, Zoom Cymru show the Artsparkers their edited short films before they go home. 2015. © Kate Mercer / https://katemercer.co.uk

GB, WALES. Memo Newbridge Memorial Hall. After a hasty edit, Kai from Zoom Cymru show the Artsparkers their edited short films before they go home. 2015. © Kate Mercer / https://katemercer.co.uk

GB. Wales, Caerphilly Castle. Artsparkers taking inspiration from their surroundings as part of the ArtSpark! workshops with tutor Lynsey. 2014. © Kate Mercer / https://katemercer.co.uk

GB. Wales, Caerphilly Castle. Artsparkers taking inspiration from their surroundings as part of the ArtSpark! workshops with tutor Lynsey Reeves. 2014. © Kate Mercer / https://katemercer.co.uk

MEK20141026-IMG_1817

GB, WALES. Blackwood Miners Institute. Artspark! dance group learn street dancing for their afternoon session. Artspark! is all about new skills and experiences. this was the first time that many of the dance group had ever tried street dance before. 2014. © Kate Mercer / https://katemercer.co.uk

MEK20150704-IMG_3617

GB, WALES. Caerphilly Castle. Community Arts Development officer Kate Verity with Artsparkers! as they take a closer look at Rubin Eynon’s sketchbooks and his thought process behind his scultptures in the castle. 2015. © Kate Mercer / https://katemercer.co.uk

GB, WALES. Blackwood Miners Institute. Tutors Lauren Campbell, Beth Ryland, Sherrall Morris, Kate Verity and Artsparkers meet for the first time to find out what's planned for the day ahead. 2014. © Kate Mercer / https://katemercer.co.uk

GB, WALES. Blackwood Miners Institute. Tutors Lauren Campbell, Beth Ryland, Sherrall Morris, Kate Verity and Artsparkers meet for the first time to find out what’s planned for the day ahead. 2014. © Kate Mercer / https://katemercer.co.uk