Art exhibition at Pitshanger Manor, 26 Nov - 23 Dec
PM Gallery & House, Mattock Lane, London W5 5EQ Tel: 020 8567 1227
4 artists, 4 schools, one BIG project!
BIG is an amazing mixed media exhibition of site specific artworks in PM Gallery based on a BIG theme, by students at three selected high schools and a special needs school in the borough.
This innovative and ambitious collaboration of professional artists and Ealing schools marks yet another extraordinary challenge for this year's annual high schools' exhibition. Work has been inspired by the artists' own practice leading to an amazing dialogue that is both visual and spatial.
Organised by PM Gallery, BIG has emerged from an intensive artist-in-residence programme for students aged 14-19. The workshops in early November, took place in the schools and onsite at PM Gallery. The BIG idea was explored both physically and metaphorically, so works on display have not only incorporated the theme and been made in relation to the vast gallery space, but also take in a wide range of media from sculptural installation to film.
Prizes for the finished works, which include training days at the University of the Arts London, will be awarded to selected students.
Students from West London Academy have created a sensational flock of birds using natural willow twigs. This installation centres around movement and invites the viewer to follow their pattern of migration as they inhabit the main gallery space and make it their own. Brentside High School & Specialist Arts College have created an awe inspiring, large-scale multi media projection whilst Villiers High School have concentrated on the subtleties of digital photography capturing the �small details' and narratives of life, but re-addressing these ideas in an impressive collection of large-scale prints and a digital projection. St Ann's School have thought about self identity and used the BIG element to inspire a display of collaborative wood constructions combined with highly personalised elements using printmaking techniques. Here students were thinking BIG as they explored their life ambitions and aspirations.
BIG also includes documented research and developmental work as well as a piece of work by each of the participating professional artists.
Rachel Dwyer, Teacher at St Ann's, writes,
Being involved in this project gives the students a fantastic opportunity to develop co-operation and communication with others�and to experience the intrinsic value of art�. Working with an experienced artist and seeing the BIG work on display has given a variety of experiences: fun, an outlet for emotion and has added to the quality and variety of life.
This project was sponsored by Excellence in Cities Aim Higher and supported by the University of the Arts London.
November 12, 2004
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