It seems a long time since the designs of Harry and Tommy from early years were chosen as the starting point for the new playground mosaic. The promised completion date was today when the school were being visited by Bishop Martin who would unveil the artwork. The design is a map of the village featuring notable trees and a network of paths which become a metaphor for the many paths the children may take in life. Continue reading
A selection of images from the garden installation day. Our reflection on this project to follow.
Abbotts Hall mosaic was finally unveiled at the official opening of the new reception lodge. We’ve been really impressed by the way the school has involved the children and staff in the long building process. Continue reading
As if we haven’t spent enough time making mosaics this spring I’d also decided to use this technique as a colour exploration exercise at art club.
In a previous post I talked about how we explored contrast. The second session was very much about learning technique and the children used their colour contrast initials as mosaic designs. The results were quite regimented but I felt we all learnt a lot. For the last session I brought along some slates, mosaic tiles and found objects, talked about what we’d learnt last week then gave the children free rein to experiment.
They created some beautiful and fascinating art which would be impossible to finish with grouting. I have a lot of questions about mosaic: about where it stands in the art v craft debate and why it’s still such a popular medium for public art. By the end of this summer I should be able to answer a few of them.
Abbotts Hall appears to be out of chronological order now but we couldn’t miss out on sharing the children’s design work for the mosaic.
It was really obvious that the children had been drawing from life as the chickens, guinea pigs and birds were carefully observed drawings of those living in the playground. Even the racing pigeon recently rescued was included in the school family. We had the difficult task of choosing a few drawings to work with and the children took the decisions over colours and how to lay the tiles. These are mosaics created in reverse method still in their upside down state on brown paper ready to be glued to the outside wall.
Abbots Hall School asked us for a large mosaic artwork to be sited on the wall of a new lodge for Reception children. They are about to welcome Year 6’s into the school and wanted an artwork that celebrated the school family including guinea pigs, rescued racing pigeon, chickens and the neighbouring windmill. Continue reading
