Spires, arches and towers of Oxford inspire primary artists
08 Jun 09
Images of the dreaming spires of Oxford, as interpreted by primary school pupils from Newham, London, are on display at Merton College this week.
30 schoolchildren from seven primary schools in the London borough visited the college earlier this year and the artwork they produced following their workshop is now on display in Merton College chapel.
The nine and ten year olds were given a tour of the college by undergraduate helpers and then spent an afternoon sketching in the front quad and in the chapel.
Julie Jackson, Schools Liaison Officer at Merton, said: ‘The young artists were very keen to show me their drawings which were all of a very high standard. I am so pleased we have been able to exhibit the pictures – especially in the chapel, which is where some of the original sketches were done.’
The visit was arranged by the Newham Primary Gifted and Talented Art Project. Project Manager, Hilary Koppel, said: ‘The visit to Merton made a tremendous impact on the group. We were privileged to be given a highly interesting tour of the college by two very articulate and amusing students and the children loved working in the chapel. The drawings and photographs of the spires and towers we could see from the different areas of the grounds formed a key part of the final paintings.’
Rachel BuxtonThis is not only about giving schoolchildren from Newham a sense of what an Oxford college is like – it’s also about engaging schoolchildren here in Oxford.
The primary school pupils also visited Corpus Christi College Cambridge as part of the project. After the visits the children took part in workshops in Newham, where they studied works by Hundertwasser and Klimt. The children then used their Oxford and Cambridge drawings and photographs to make compositions of spires, towers and arches. They drew these onto canvas before completing their paintings, using a combination of collage and paint, influenced by the styles of the Austrian artists.
Rachel Buxton, Senior Tutor at Merton, said: ‘This is not only about giving schoolchildren from Newham a sense of what an Oxford college is like – it’s also about engaging schoolchildren here in Oxford. Primary school students from Pegasus School in Blackbird Leys have come to Merton to see the exhibition, and to spend a day at the College, and this is part of the College’s broader desire to forge links with the local community.’
The school children and their parents visited Merton College for the official opening last week and Julie says they should be proud of their work. ‘Members of staff at the college have already been e-mailing me to say how impressed they are with the pictures. I really think they are fantastic and hope this exhibition gives the students the confidence to realise how talented they are.’
The exhibition will run until around 12 June and will be open to the public during normal Merton College visiting hours – Monday to Friday 2 pm - 4 pm and Saturday and Sunday 10 am - 4 pm.