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Home Publicationsartists in schools 2001 |
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Chatham Primary School |
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Project Coordinator: Bruce Gallagher
Artist: Paula Frost
Project: 'Me And You Zoo' Ceramic Sculpture
Background
School
Chatham Primary School is located in Surrey Hills, in Melbourne's eastern
suburbs. The school's main facility is a two-storey red brick building
with a three-arched entry. This building is thought to be the last of
this design to be built in Victoria.
The
area of Surrey Hills has become attractive to young professional families,
and school enrolments have steadily increased to between 405 and 415 children
in 2001. Each student attends specialist classes in Art, Japanese, Library
and Music. Chatham Primary School also implements a 'broadening horizons'
program which provides groups of talented students with a range of enrichment
activities.
Artist
Paula Frost's initial training was through a Bachelor of Fine Arts at
the Phillip Institute of Technology. She went on to complete Honours,
then Masters degrees at Monash University, Caulfield. Over the past ten
years Paula has been involved in a number of different arts programs in
schools in Victoria, while working towards her own exhibitions.
Project
The
aim of the project was to design and build, in raku clay, two brightly
coloured mythical creatures for the 'Me and You Zoo'. Paula introduced
her own work to the children with a slide-show which outlined her techniques,
design concepts and construction processes.
Students
then designed on paper their own mythical creatures, aspects of which
were used for the major works. Students worked with Paula Frost to build
these creatures. The younger students pressed the clay into prepared moulds,
while the older students hand-built sections of the beasts.
Underglazes
were applied by all students, with the senior students painting the more
detailed glazing. After firing, the works were assembled by Paula and
mounted onto coloured bases.
Benefits
The
project involved the whole school and community as one. The students looked
at different ideas, each contributing their own mythologies, and all working
toward one final product.
The
students were introduced to new media: raku clay, underglazes, colours,
and various assembling techniques. Ultimately they learned to work as
a team. The opportunity for the students to be exposed to a 'real' artist
and her professional works was a real plus.
Teachers
were able to share a new experience with their students and reflect upon
the outcomes collaboratively.
The
initial introduction of the artist to the school community and the final
display of the works were highlights for the parent body. Parents
were encouraged to visit the art room and witness their child's involvement.
 
Comments
Artist
The artist found the staff, students and community at Chatham Primary School
most welcoming. The environment was very friendly and the project was
always encouraged. Bruce Gallagher and Chris Hepworth were two wonderful
teachers to work with. The art room was an excellent space to use and
the project was always safe and secure. One
drawback was the small-scale kiln, as the pieces had to be made smaller
than anticipated, which then created a longer firing timetable.
Project Coordinator
"Our choice of artist was an excellent one. She had the great ability to impart
knowledge and skills. Paula maintained an excellent working relationship
with the children and was perceptive to their individual needs. We were
able to work to our timetable which was planned on a realistic basis and
completed within the time frame, though twenty working days is somewhat
limiting. The final products are major art pieces and the students gain
much joy in identifying their own input into the masterpiece."
Students
"All of the Chatham Primary School students were invited to participate in
the building of a clay sculpture. The students worked with Paula Frost.
It looked like all of the students enjoyed working with Paula and creating
the creatures."
"Over the time we had, all of the students were to make a special
part which was then joined together to create the sculpture. We know everyone
enjoyed working on the creature."
"A big thank you to Paula for coming in and putting in a lot of time
working with us."
Parents
Rose Caldwell (a parent) spent an enjoyable morning in the art room
watching Paula work with her son's Grade Three class:
"Every child was given a turn at constructing part of the sculpture.
The children were very interested in what they were creating and listened
attentively to instructions. The nature of the construction obviously
appealed to them and Paula had captured their imagination through its
creation. It was lovely to see that Paula knew each child by name, which
was not an easy thing to do with so many participants."
Project Details
Selection of artist
The planning committee was initially made aware of the artist through
a parent who was familiar with Paula Frost's work. Dianne Hardy, another
parent, proceeded to investigate the feasibility of the artist working
with us. Having met with Dianne, Paula accepted the proposal and the project
was underway.
Selection of students
This was a whole-school project. All children participated in the
program and were involved in every step, from the initial drawings to
the final coat of coloured glaze.
Timetable
Artists in schools sessions were taken during the normal art classes.
The artist would take small groups of up to one-third of a class on a
rotational basis, ensuring the hour-long sessions. The art teacher continued
the normal art program with the remaining children.
Work area
Sessions took place in the art room. One long bench was allocated
to the project activities during practical sessions.
Involvement of staff and school community
The initial sourcing of the artist was made by the parent who wrote the submission.
Many parents and visitors visited the art room and followed the project
to completion. The project provided great inspiration to a group of visiting
Japanese teachers who visited Chatham because of the LOTE program.
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