Student exhibition puts climate change in the frame
Tony Henderson reports on a new fundraising exhibition in Northumberland
A college which serves individuals across Northumberland who have additional needs is staging an exhibition of pupils’ artworks linked to nature and climate change.
Collingwood School and Media Arts College at Stobhillgate, near Morpeth, includes a media suite with an art video and sound facility, a professional video studio and full multi track recording studio, and it is run by a specialist production team.
There is also an art department led by ceramicist Jenny Blake, and practising visual artist Katherine Renton.
The college has been awarded Arts Council England’s prestigious Artsmark Platinum Award, for demonstrating its commitment to providing a high-quality arts and cultural education for all students, and is one of only two special needs schools in the country to currently hold the accolade.
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A requirement of this award is the exhibiting of students’ work in the community, and a display of work is now running at the RePUBlic Gallery at Blyth until February 8.
The exhibition, titled Elements features film with an accompanying soundtrack, and a selection of art work produced by students ranging in age from 11-16 years.
“The work explores the wonders of nature, and the students’ local surroundings, in a time marked by the threat of climate change,” said Katherine Renton.
“The title references the ancient Greeks’ theories on the four elements of earth, wind, fire and water, in which they tried to explain the relationship between nature and humans, and believed that if the balance was disrupted, then problems would arise.”
The art work is framed and for sale, being scanned prints of the students’ original paintings and drawings
All proceeds go to the Collingwood Foundation, an independent charity that benefits all students.
As well as teaching the creative arts, The Woodlands, the school’s outdoor learning centre consists of a forest school, classroom, animal care and horticulture area - offering a fruitful environment for young people to explore and grow in all aspects of their development.
Activities in these locations is focused on developing personal, social and emotional life skills through learner-led, nature-based learning, whilst accessing a curriculum that develops key skills such as English, maths and science.
Elements is open until February 8. RePUBlic Gallery is open Tuesdays–Fridays, 9-3pm and 11-3pm on Saturdays.