Encounters exhibition Workshops 

Provider: UAL insights with Central Saint Martins tutor & Photographer Reece Owen 

Theme: Polaroid Instant images – a creative exploration

Process: Instant photos and stitching

Students had the opportunity to work with UAL/Central St Martins tutor and Photographer Reece Owen. 

They were introduced to his work then used polaroid cameras to explore the area. 

Once they had taken a series of 6 Polaroids they had the opportunity to manipulate one of their images with a range of materials. 

Provider: King’s Foundation

Title:  Introduction to carving and clay relief

Process: Students worked with wooden carving tools to carve a stamp from a bar of soap, they then used their stamps to press into air-drying clay tablets.

Students really enjoyed the tactile nature of the project working with 3D forms and experiencing a technique they had not engaged with before. The designs varied from the abstract to the very detailed, inspired by Egyptian hieroglyphics and relief work, as well as incorporating students' individual interests. The etched designs created were then used as stamps into a clay surface continuing the development of a collaborative narrative. An excellent day for all!

Provider: Whitechapel Gallery with Kirtsy Lowry 

Title:  Basketry

Process: Using foraged natural material such as grasses and leaves students learnt technical skills in basket making, learning how to gather and use raw materials from the landscape to create a functional, tactile, beautiful object.

Provider: Bow Arts

Title: Public Art - Sculpture

Process: Artist Sara Heywood introduced students to her Public Art practice and to consider how communities interact with public artwork. 

Year 9 students were introduced to a public art design brief  "outdoor room" where people could meet and were asked  to create designs and maquettes. 

The workshop, led by Sara & her assistant, introduced students to a variety of art materials such as foam cardboard, sticks, coloured cellophane and a glue gun to make their own outdoor structures. 

Sara shared examples of her own architectural projects and had displays on the walls for inspiration.  Students were engaged with building their own "outdoor rooms" and proudly brought them back to school. 

Provider:  A Team Arts Education with director Sarbjit Natt

Title: Cyanotypes

Process: Students created unique artworks exploring a photographic technique that produces a cyan-blue print without the use of a darkroom or complicated equipment. They explored using everyday items found in the classroom/home and natural forms such as plants and leaves or acetate images to create interesting and wonderful effects just using UV light.

Provider:  London Metropolitan University - School of Art, Architecture and Design

Title: Furniture Design

Process: The aim of the project was to design an outcome using ‘ready-made’ items. Through ideation and sketch modelling, the ready-made item can be given new functionality and form.

Students created design modelling and made chairs using recycled materials. They used a jig to mould the wire into different leg shapes for the chair and then used materials to design a range of  chairs.  Students then spent some time evaluating each design and process.

Provider: Raven Row

Title: Experimental Weaving 

Process: Students participated in a workshop hosted by Rhian Smith from Raven Row a non-profit contemporary art exhibition centre in Spitalfields.  

Year 7 students from Bow School joined artists from art gallery Raven Row to learn about the Huguenot and silk weaving history of Spitalfields. Using experimental media like magazines, existing artworks and historical photographs from the area; students first learnt how to weave and then went on to devise and make their own design.  

Provider:  London Metropolitan University - School of Art, Architecture and Design

Title: Interior Design

Process: This project’s focus was to describe, through sketching and then model making, a meeting point, a connecting point between two or 3 characters. 

Collaborating in small groups,  students presented their identity and character through the shapes and forms that translate the meaning. During the process, the students enjoyed the unexpected outcome and texture achievable with paper through cutting, curling, folding or crumbling, creating interesting and unique results. The workshop also looked into effective photographic documentation of works using smartphone cameras. Students experimented with colour gels, knitted fabrics and sequins to create variations of light and shadow in their pieces. All of our students expressed satisfaction and joy with their outcome. This workshop encouraged artistic expression and fostered a deeper understanding of the relationship between personal identity and interior design. 

Students were also introduced to the interior design courses at London Metropolitan University through a sculptural window display project and  the world of interior architecture and interior design at London Met. 

Provider:  London Metropolitan University - School of Art, Architecture and Design with Karen Coughlan

Title: Fashion Textiles

Process: Students were introduced to embroidered badges as an embellishment to clothing.  They explored ideas and designed a badge exploring their identity. They used a sew-on-badge template and embellished and personalised their designs using a range of textile-based processes.