ARTS VOLUNTEERING PROJECTS 2023
FEBRUARY - PLEASE LOOK AFTER THIS BEAR
We were lucky enough to obtain the services of Bob Alley, the talented illustrator of the famous Paddington Bear books. He set up virtual workshops which were zoomed from his home in Rhode Island USA into Petworth Primary School, St Mary’s Pulborough, Fittleworth Village School and Bury Primary School
Michael Bond, Paddington’s author chose Bob’s drawings to illustrate his books some thirty years ago. Bob spent time in the UK researching the places where Paddington has his adventures and has been creating the scenes and personalities ever since.
Bob shared his remarkable ability to bring characters alive with Year 5 children, demonstrating how to change mood and place with simple markings. The students sketched along as he was speaking, thoroughly enjoying his relaxed and amusing delivery. The results were stunning and he was able to inspire even the reluctant drawers.
He was also able to inspect some of their work on screen - an amazing experience for children from West Sussex to be assessed by an international artist.
The drawings will be displayed in the PopUp Art Exhibition between July 12th and 16th during the Petworth Festival.
This project was funded by a generous grant from the Patricia Fay Foundation.
MARCH - HEADSUP WITH JON EDGAR
In March we ran the last of our HeadsUp Workshops at Billingshurst Primary School, funded by a grant from the Patricia Fay Foundation. Jon Edgar, the well-known sculptor, again worked with year 5 children in creating a head of a local person, in this case one of the governors. They worked enthusiastically, building up their heads as well as assisting Jon on his life-sized head. Jon said ‘Observing and modelling in clay can help improve how we see in a broader sense, which may contribute to raising self-esteem in young people.’
JUNE - MONCRIEFF-BRAY GALLERY VISIT
With the help of a Community Grant from the Sussex Area Arts Society, St Mary’s School, Pulborough went to the Moncrieff-Bray Gallery with Art Educator, Maureen Wells. It was a sunny morning and the children were intrigued with the different sculptures whether they represented birds, foxes or even something abstract. They sketched enthusiastically with some stunning results. Back at school Maureen took an art lesson where the children painted land and seascapes in the style of one of the artists, Ann Osram, they’d seen in the gallery. These will be displayed in the PopUp Exhibition.
JULY - POPUP ART EXHIBITION
We held our PopUp Art Exhibition for the 5th time this year as part of the Petworth Festival.
A generous donation from a society member enabled us to run this exhibition again. As usual it was held in the United Reformed Church in Petworth, and this year involved over 20 local schools.
Jon Edgar will opened the exhibition on Wednesday July 12th at 4.30.
JULY - MUSIC WORKSHOP AT CHAMPS HILL
LEAD BY JO EAMES FROM WEST SUSSEX MUSIC
In the first session the children from Bury, years 3/4 and 5/6, rehearsed a piece they had learned. In the next session Jo Eames from West Sussex Music demonstrated her instruments - saxophone, clarinet and flute to familiarise the children with these instruments. In the third session which was attended by parents and Society members Jo accompanied the children in a performance of their learned piece.
OCTOBER - REFUGE IN NATURE
After the success of previous projects ‘Poetry in the Park’ and ‘Drumming Poets’, we were delighted to welcome Antosh Wojcik back to work with 13 of our local schools on a special ‘Refuge in Nature’ project. This project was based on ‘Refuge’, the National Poetry theme for 2023. The children took inspiration from the beautiful countryside that surrounds us and Antosh’s particular and inclusive style in coaching the children to explore their ideas, has resulted in some wonderfully creative poetry and ignited passions in even the most reluctant poets.
Many of the results were displayed in the Leconfield Hall during the Petworth Literary Festival and in the two bookshops in Petworth.
