In association with The Wild Escape project, led by Art Fund, (www.artfund.org) I created a series of workshops for the Pallant House Gallery, (www.pallant.org.uk) in response to their Birds and Beasts exhibition. Selected schools were invited to take part in amazing encounter sessions hosted by the gallery, followed by creative workshops with myself, and then a walk in the woods at GoodWood estate, hosted by the GoodWood Education Centre, (GoodWood Trust, www.goodwood.com).
Children created environmentally conscious sculptures tailored for a bird or beast found in the English countryside, and placed their artworks directly into the landscape. Using only foraged materials, and natural twine, students were asked to consider the impact of their materials, the needs of birds and beasts, and ways in which they may be able to help. These creative workshops allowed the students to work with their hands, get messy, and experience nature all day long, both in the gallery and outside.
"The Wild Escape invites primary school children (ages 7-11) to find a favourite animal in their local museum and create an artwork imagining its journey to a natural habitat. Their pictures will be brought together in an epic collective artwork unveiled on Earth Day. Led by Art Fund and supported by Arts Council England, The Wild Escape is an opportunity for the next generation to join in the conversation about biodiversity." www.thewildescape.org.uk
Photographs courtesy of Sam Stephenson. www.samstephenson.co.uk