Cross-Curricular Focus Day

Last Friday, year 7s took part in a cross-curricular workshop involving art, music and drama in response to Shakespeare's play of Hamlet. The result was an exciting mix of dramatic and musical performances and visual presentations showcasing all of the work produced as a multimedia outcome. Ms Oddi documented many of the events so please contact her for further info, but below is the art presentation:Hamlet final pp df

View more presentations from Z Hoeben.

Staff Census Display

A-Level Art Exhibition

ART Exhibitions, a set on Flickr.

Congratulations to all year 12 and 13 students for their excellent work this year and north wing exhibition. There were many positive comments by parents and guests.

6th Form Stairwell Gallery

DfL Archive, a photo by Fortismere Art & Photography Department on Flickr.

For the past year, I have been experimenting with using the stairwell at the top of the sixth form block as a gallery for A-level students to have a permanent frame to exhibit their photographic work. During assessment periods, they are expected to update their displays and we use it as a place to discuss their work. It has been a much more interesting way of assessing work rather than solely in the classroom.

I would like to roll it out across my GCSE art groups as well by identifying spaces around school.

Tony Cragg's Recycled Art Works

The artist Tony Cragg is well known for using recycled objects to create his sculptures and he might be an interesting sculptor to create a display in response to in order to raise environmental awareness about waste and the role of recycling.

Languages Cross-Curricular Posters

Mr Price often gets students to reproduce famous works of art and then label them using french vocabulary, which then form part of his displays:

Display of NRA Photos

Every year during the Year 11 National Record of Achievement (NRA) ceremony, I help to photograph the students all dressed up and take photos against a white backdrop. They make an incredible effort, really taking time to present themselves. This year, a group of Year 11 and A-Level students have asked to take over and will be running the show tomorrow. I have a large archive of photos that would be great to display around the school and am thinking about South Wing assembly hall as a permanent space. Below is a video of some of the shots from the past few years:

Projecting Images/Text

A useful technique for tracing shapes onto a wall is to use an overhead projector to enlarge your image/text and then go over it with pen or marker pens. We often use this technique in art to transpose images onto large areas.

Outdoor Displays

Fortismere Activity Week, a photo by Fortismere Art & Photography Department on Flickr.

Think about how you might create a semi-permanent display which is the result of an extra-curricular day workshop like this container painted by students outside the library.

The Science department are currently considering a mural of the DNA molecular structure outside the department on the wall. If you are interested in supporting with it, please let Mr Stonier know.

Body Sculptures in Science Block

Year 10 Art students have relocated their sculptures from north wing to the science block, where 'The Body' will be the theme for an on-going display.

Y10 Body Sculptures Exhibition

Congratulations to 10B/AR1 (now known as the 'Space Invaders' collective) for their current body exhibition, which involved creating an installation in North Wing based on the Body/Figure and responding to the space creatively.

The brief required them to work as a group and consider how and where their work should be positioned within the location. It worked very well presenting it as a challenge and giving a couple of specific roles such as that of the 'curator'. The group are generally highly motivated, so it was not a surprise that they were organised, although they worked very hard outside of the lessons to get them completed. Whilst away on paternity leave, I was told they were very independent - more so than when I was around apparently (thanks, Ms Powell)... so perhaps, there is a lesson for us as teachers to allow more autonomy and less interference until requested!

Please let them know what you think.

Randy's Hanging Sculpture

Randy Denham in Year 10 has caused a stir with his controversial sculpture which hangs suspended from north wing ceiling. It is part of his GCSE art project in response to the theme of the body. Departments might want to consider how they might create a debate through a subversive and controversial display.

Key Stage 3 Art Exhibition

The Art Department have put in an exhibition of work by Key Stage 3 students in north wing located in the main hall and outside north wing entrance. Please come and take a look and let the students know your opinion!