Sunday 29 April 2012

Derby High Puppet Animation Project

Hello ladies, you have probably been wondering where I have been!
Well this week I had the fantastic oppotunity to spend 3 days working at Derby High School in Bury. The project was organised by the Ideas Foundation, which is an educational charity created by advertiser Robin Wight. They have two offices based which are based in London and Manchester which aim to spot creative talent in local schools that wouldn't usually be represented in the creative industries. A few lucky students are then selected for a Creative Schlarship programme.

Our aim of the week was to create a puppet animation film based on the importance of reading. The project was lead by experienced animator Paul Couvela, who has worked on Pingu and Bob the Builder, producer and writer, David Hanson who has previously worked on Corrie and Holly Oaks, and inspriational textiles artist Sally Ann Duis.

Our role as Student Mentors was to help and encourage small groups in specialist areas of model making, set design, and costume and props design. With only 3 days to create everything, we often had to create the odd prop here and there!


In small groups we worked together to read the characters and established what they would like to wear. The pupils did a fantastic job of analzying and developing their styles.

Considering many of the pupils had done little or no textiles before they picked it up really quickly! Some were definately had natural talent they hadn't realised existed, and blossomed at certain tasks they were given. They coped really well outside their comfort zone.


The progress everyone made was amazing, and I think even if some of the group leave school without studying art again, they will be able to think more creatively and will have learnt to co operate well in a group situation, which is something that we come across in all walks of life.


I'm really glad I was part of this project and I would like to do more community arts projects in the future. I learnt more about myself and how I work with others. When working with other artists you need to be open minded to listen to other ideas that may have not even crossed your mind. I have also realised how much strength of character you need to be a teacher! I cannot picture myself in an authoritative role, however I am calm, caring and patient and see myself in more assistant or therapeutic roles. I would like to be an art therapist one day and would like to build up as much experience as possible.


 

2 comments:

  1. looks like you had a great experience, being in the school environment can be challenging I'm sure Louise could tell you a thing or two there.
    What a fab opportunity working with this animator, Pingu is brilliant!!!
    I think its good to push ourselves outside of our comfort zone, you have obviously picked up a lot from the experience, learning to interact with a different group of people will be something which you could draw from later in life.
    If Art therapy is something you seriously want to take up in the future, make sure you research it well before hand, it is an immensely rewarding but challenging job, especially on the emotional front, as the work often entails working with people facing very difficult personal problems.

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  2. Thanks pip, yes Pingu was my fave programme when I was little! Art therapy is the long term goal and I would like to pick up as much work experience as I can!

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