The Arts Society Ascot

ARTS VOLUNTEERS

As one of its objectives, THE ARTS SOCIETY (NADFAS) aims to inspire young people with enthusiasm for the Arts and to that end since 2003 our society has funded an Artist Placement within local schools for 2 days per school year to teach children some skills that would not normally be available to them.

Art @ the Station

On 14^th December 2018 we launched a new and exciting Young Arts Project – Art @ the Station – a permanent exhibition inside Ascot station, of artwork produced by pupils in local schools. The work displayed will be changed every three to four months, thus allowing a greater number of schools to have their art exhibited. More details to follow.

Young Arts Project 2018

This year we are again funding a ceramics project at Ascot Heath Junior School. In the past four years the projects have involved producing large animal sculptures linked to Easter, Christmas Nativity figures, a range of pots (which included a chalice and plate) and finally lanterns.

The theme for 2018 is “Shells and Fish”. Stephanie Bolter, the Potter, met with Sarah Theaker, the Headteacher, to discuss the topic, methods and procedures. She then submitted her proposal, which we endorsed.

For two days in April the children worked in two groups of five, which promoted individual work with group support, and each child produced a large sculptural piece using slab and coil methods. On the first morning they were introduced to clay, process and method, then looked at fish and shell symbolism in art using stories, photographs and models to create a 2D design for their sculpture. In the afternoon and on the following morning they used clay and the techniques they had been shown to produce the 3D form in clay. On the final afternoon they used different tools to decorate their pieces

The pupils were totally absorbed in the project and gained confidence as they worked. It was a pleasure to witness this.

Mrs Bolter took the work to her studio for bisque firing. Later this term the pupils will spend a morning decorating and glazing and they are really excited about this. Mrs Bolter will then glaze fire the sculptures.

The work will go on display and pupils will have an opportunity to show it to their parents and visitors later this term. We hope to see some of the children with Miss Theaker at one of our autumn meetings to talk to us about the project and show us the results.

Young Arts project 2017

Jayne Strand and Janet Longstaff met with Sarah Theaker, the Head of Ascot Heath Junior School, in January and discussed this year’s project, Ceramic Lanterns.

The first two days were the 16th and 17th of March where 10 children worked with Mrs Bolter to produce the Lanterns using the Slab method of hand building. The project linked to Maths with a look at 3D shape and form, geometric patterns and symmetry, and to many distinct cultures of the world using references from religious faiths.

The first morning involved discussion and consideration of the artefacts and information that Mrs Bolter had brought in and in the afternoon each pupil began by preparing the sides and base of their lantern and the following morning decorated these in relief using impression, carving and sculpture. In the afternoon they attached the walls to the base by scoring and using slip. Mrs Bolter took the work to her studio for firing. It will be returned to school in a couple of weeks and the pupils will further decorate then glaze their work.

I attended the two afternoon sessions and have NEVER seen a group of pupils so engrossed in their work! At the end of the first day Mrs Bolter found a note on her desk from one of the children stating, “I have had so much fun”.

I must say that I, too, “had so much fun”.