Guided Tour

Sixty pupils and extremely overcast skies were a slight concern as we viewed Jennie Savage’s installation. It was very interesting to see that the weather conditions changed the perspective of the onlooker.

Mina considered the work or view, which in this case is part of the piece, as depressing because “it’s a cold day and the colours are sad”. Emma’s viewpoint was, “it’s scary because the sea is so big and deep, there are lots of rocks and unknown fish beneath. It’s like being little inside something big”. Nathan seemed to be a lot more relaxed about the situation, “I could sit here forever watching the sea, it’s cool”, however when he was confronted with a strange sound from the headphones he said, “now I feel scared, scared”.

Many of the pupils thought that it took them to a different place and reminded them of “cool memories”. The pupils weren’t short of ideas as Aerin said it would be good to try to mimic sounds of the sea by using different materials. Other ideas were of murals with text relating to what other people in the class thought about the sea or the artwork. One pupil questioned, how was the installation art as the view was already there?

The weather held off as we walked along the promenade discussing some very exciting ideas for day two of the project.

Richard Higletts artwork, “A Song for Jack” once again gave the pupils a smile as it was viewed by all, huddled around the screen.

“This is something new, something different and original” said Luca. “Maybe the dogs are passionate about what they sing” Arefah said. “High- pitched sounds make me feel happy and low-pitched sounds make me feel sad” said Nathan. Ruby suggested that we could make our own dog costumes and hold a performance in school.

It was an interesting tour as the pupils had obviously had a total new experience about their perception of art and this made them think differently about what art was all about.



Listening to Jennie Savage’s audio soundtrack to the sea



Looking at Jennie Savage’s audio box



Looking at Richard Higlett’s ‘Canine Choir’ display at the National Waterfront Museum

Artworks

It was a treat to find, at Parklands Primary School, that the Year 6 pupils had voluntarily done some homework about their forthcoming projects. I arrived to see photographs, recordings and concepts ready for us to work with. We were off to a great start.

After discussion, we had worked out group projects with animations, large drawings, performance and slide shows. The children had really embraced the concept of contemporary art and we had some fun filled days working very hard in producing the work. Their classroom situation turned into a full-on workshop using a large variety of mediums. Some children worked with clay, making dogs story board, looking forward to editing, others making slide shows or costume for a performance piece.

‘This is real fun and exciting’, said Lucy-Anne. ‘I enjoyed using all of the different materials’, said Roberto. ‘I really enjoyed putting the sound onto the slide show’, said Sidhant. ‘I want to do this again. No I don’t want to do this again I need to do this again. It’s the funniest thing I’ve done this term’, said William.

Mair Lewis, Deputy Head of Parklands Primary School, said ‘Our project about ‘A song for Jack’ by Richard Higlett and the installation by Jennie Savage, was really enthralling. The children were captured by thinking through their responses. Researching the history of Swansea Jack drew in the children’s interest which gave rise to the connections they made to the performance of live dogs. What was really thrilling was their innovative ideas which entwined their work and their understanding of the two pieces of unusual art.

‘The children have thoroughly enjoyed and eagerly looked forward to the Project Day and working and sharing ideas with Mr Dave Marchant. To be truthful they are very sad (but very proud) to have completed this project. Many thanks for including us’.



The Parklands Primary School ‘Dog’ Choir





Making the costumes for the ‘Dog’ Choir





‘Working on one of the films



Drawing the dog choir concert at the National Waterfront Museum



Making the dog choir models

Guided Tour

Smiles appeared on all of the faces of the pupils from Daniel James School, whilst they viewed Richard Higletts ‘Song for Jack’ DVD, at the National Waterfront Museum. In three words ‘they loved it’. Sophie commented, ‘it’s such a different type of art to what we normally see, its great’. The work spoke for itself and ideas started flowing straight away about how they could create works of art inspired by this performance.

On the way to Jennie Savage’s installation, we walked along the beach posing the question: What does the sea means to us?. Kirsty said, ‘it makes me forget all of my problems’ and Jade said, ‘it makes me dream about a dream place’.

This put us in good stead for Jennie’s installation.
While viewing the work, the pupils became quite philosophical. ‘People could come here to think about life in general’ said Kirsty. ‘It’s a good place to clear your mind, its serene’, Josh commented and ‘Imagine you saw this at sunset with beautiful colours reflecting off the water’ said Jade.

Claire the art teacher said, ‘its such a great experience for them. They never get to see this type of work first hand and this tour is a totally new experience for them. It really does open their horizons about art’.

I am really looking forward to my school visit as the pupils seemed to be buzzing with inspiration.



Watching Richard Higlett’s ‘Canine Choir’ film at the National Waterfront Museum



Looking at Richard Higlett’s display about the ‘Canine Choir’ at the National Waterfront Museum

Artworks 2008

What an extremely productive two days were to be had at Daniel James Community School. On arrival the children were prepared for work, and I mean work, the class as a whole produced up to ten mini concept projects as a response to the Locws 08 tour.

This was a ‘hands- on’ group, who very much enjoyed the making of the product, without missing out on a good understanding of conceptual art.

The class were engaged in their projects, not without facing hurdles to problem solve along the way. ‘It was a real challenge on how to make Homeboy stand up’ says Lewis. ‘The models were interesting to build’ says Jade.

A flavour of some of these projects were:

‘Jack is back’, a singing sculpture with built in mouth speaker and recorded cd by Keiran and Scott.

‘A Song on a Pier by Jack’ made by Amy,
Sophie and Holly mixing two and three dimensional painting with sculpture.

Zoe and Bethan made ‘Dog recording studios’ x three. These were models of different recording studios for dogs with fine attention to detail. ‘A funky fun thing to do’, said Zoe.

It was great to work with enthused children who weren’t scared of hard work.

Claire Middleton the Head of Art comments: ‘The experience of working with Locws has been fantastic. It has broadened their horizons and blown them away. Looking at and having the opportunity to work with working Welsh Artists has been amazing and has really enriched their artwork as well as being a positive experience. Pupils have been inspired to use their work as a starting point for a whole unit of work. The work pupils have done is going to reach their immediate community, brothers and sisters in the school. ‘Previous work done with David Marchant has inspired current pupils also, as it is on exhibition in Swansea Museum. Response from parents has been extremely positive which is having a positive effect on younger pupils’.

Claire Middleton
Head of Art
Daniel James Community School



‘A Song on a Pier by Jack’



One of the three dog recording studios



‘Window on a Window’



‘Home-boy’



Technical work making a cd



Making one of the dogs



The making of ‘Jack’



‘J For Jack’

Guided Tour


Starting with Jennie Savage’s work, after an explanation of contemporary art, the pupils took to the installation well. “I think the window looks like a cinema screen”, said Gwynon. “I feel lost as I don’t know where the noise is coming from”, said Awen. Michael felt that it made him feel that he was looking forward to something. In depth chats about the connection between the sound and the visual arose.



When the pupils saw Richards work, it again brought smiles to the pupils faces. They enjoyed the DVD and loved the fact that some of the dogs had funky clothing on. The pupils sympathised with the amount of background research that went into the artwork and thought that a tribute to Swansea Jack was a very clever idea. Mike thought that Edward was like a member of a male voice choir. This gave the children lots of ideas for multi media pieces, which sound like exciting projects to look forward to when I visit the school.







Looking through Jennie Savage’s window out over Swansea Bay



Artworks



What an exciting two days, using full range of multi-media, audio visual and new media with no end of problem solving and alternative thinking to create our artworks and installation modules as a response to Locws 2008 artworks.



“I thought art was just drawing and painting but I can see you can mix video and sound with painting and making. I’ve learnt a lot about technology.”- Emma



“Plug and play” created by Ross Lewis and James changed dramatically as they embraced situations from their initial idea and let their creativity flow. Taking the experience, of a new way of looking, from Jennie Savages Work, with flashing lights, mini speakers and a mobile phone, they created a model of a mobile night, which anyone could attach their phones to and listen to their favourite music whilst immersed inside the model, “Its mad, hip and now” as Lewis says.



In comparison to this was, “Swansea Jack”, created by Katie and Carly. This was a full size plaster sculpture of a singing dog with hand made clothes including a cape with a ’superdog’ logo. “It was great fun and the project made us go beyond our limits in art and craft”, said Katie”.



“Its better than normal art. I used to think art was boring but now we’ve done this project I think its really good” – Awen



Kezia, Gwynon, Emma and Erica created a model of a school cinema. They filmed the yard at break time and with their mobile phones and recorded people talking about what the schoolyard meant to them. This was portrayed by a small video screen at one end of their model and headphones for listening to their recordings at the other. It worked very well as you felt like you were in a mini cinema. Kezia said, “It showed us that there was more about art than meets the eye”. “It was a great chance to be really creative,” said Gwynne.



“We’ve really enjoyed creating our collage called “School of barks,” it really stretched our imagination” – Carys and Melissa.



Rhodri, Rhidian and Michael produced ‘Dog Opera’, which entailed a clay dog under a spotlight in a theatrical situation. “It was a tough challenge we had our difficulties but resolved our problems. I wish the project was longer” – Michael.



It was a privilege to see the enthusiasm of the pupils when having to explore their imaginations in the production of their work.



Not only enthusiasm from the Year Nine children but also from their Art teacher Rhian Thomas who wrote:



“Every pupil who undertook the Locws 08 mini project has enjoyed the wealth of experiences. Also the exploration of techniques including New Media (incidentally which is on the new GCSE syllabus for2009) combined with important life skills and problem solving and a new approach to thinking from process to product. Above all as a result all the pupils are taking GCSE art next year. Great for the Art and Design department. Well-done Dave Marchant for inspiring and motivating them! A thoroughly enjoyable “hands on” two and a half day course. Can we have more. Thank you David”



Rhian Thomas. Art and Design Teacher – Ysgol Gyfn Bryntawe.







‘The Dog Opera’







‘Lighthouse In A Window’







Making the ‘School Of Barks’ collage






‘Plug And Play’







‘The School Cinema’ – Click here to watch the film







Making ‘Swansea Jack’ the singing dog







‘Swansea Jack’