Workshops at the Art Pavilion for schools 

Fine Art workshop - (The Prince's Foundation) students explored new and exciting forms of photographic collage.  

Process: Archival imagery/negatives/collage/slides/projection

Working with archival imagery from the NASA archives, students explored collage techniques on a miniature scale, by making our own 35mm negatives and then enlarging these using a traditional slide projector.  This workshop gave students the opportunity to explore film collage techniques and the relationship between photography and forms of storytelling.  

Expression Painting workshop with Kirtsy Lowry – Whitechapel Gallery 

Based on the exhibition at the Whitechapel Gallery https://www.whitechapelgallery.org/exhibitions/action-gesture-paint-women-and-global-abstraction-1940-70/

Process: oil pastels, abstract expressionism

Y9 students from SPW took part in a great workshop organised by Kirsty from the Whitechapel Gallery. The workshop was correlating with the Gallery’s current exhibition - Action, Gesture, Paint, which showcases abstract artwork by women artists. Students were asked to create small abstract expressive drawings looking through the window at the lake and greenery outside the pavilion. Students had lots of fun and thoroughly enjoyed using bright coloured oil pastels and being able to freely express themselves. Abstract drawing was a new experience for many students who aspire to create realistic drawings at school. Students also took part in collaborative drawing to further explore abstract ideas.

Students worked with University of the Arts  UAL-Central Saint Martins ambassadors and Sarbjit Natt, director from A Team Arts Education, to create posters and zines that focussed on collective dialogue to explore ideas and what each of us bring to the world and why this can create social change, thus finding the power in creative expression. To find out about A Teams Arts Education and their support go to https://www.alexandermcqueen.com/en-us/a-team-arts-education-3

https://www.instagram.com/ateamartseducation/

Lecturer Suzanne Smeeth-Poaros (a Royal College of Art graduate with a master's degree in Interior Design), has extensive experience working on a number of high-profile projects in the workplace, residential, leisure and retail sectors, offering high quality bespoke solutions, and Sarah Kenyon, Senior Interior Design Lecturer 3D Multidisciplinary Designer, with ten years professional experience  at London Metropolitan University - School of Art, Architecture and Design

Students were 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. 

The aim of the Interiors/Spatial workshop was for students to discover how form, structure, colour, materials and light can create a sculptural shop window display. 

Students were asked to work in pairs to create a model for an interior space. They had to list their 5 main characteristics and combine these in a structural form that would work in a space, considering the entrance and exit to that space, the way it is used and how people move through it. Light and filters were used to add ambience. 

A group of Key Stage 3 students had the opportunity to attend a Future Textiles workshop that was provided by The Prince's Foundation at the Art Pavilion, Mile End. 

With tutor support and encouragement, students participating in this workshop produced a small purse/bag featuring both decorative and construction stitches. Students learnt a creative approach to the design of the item and were introduced to applique and digital embroidery techniques.  They learnt construction techniques such as working with seam allowances, reverse stitch and the technique of pivoting to complete their outcome.

The students had the extra benefit of being able to view the Tracks in Time 2023 exhibits in the same space showing a diverse range of visual arts produced by the THAT network schools in Tower Hamlets. 

Student’s participated in a workshop hosted by Rhian Smith from Raven Row a non-profit contemporary art exhibition centre in Spitalfields, where they explored the nature of communication through television. They initially examined their perceptions of TV and what it could be used for. The workshop culminated in students producing a short 5 minute section for a television show.

Yiannis Katsaris, Senior Lecturer in Photography at The School of Art, Architecture and Design, London Metropolitan University introduced 15 year 10 Photography students to a workshop exploring photographic studio equipment. Students had the opportunity to develop their skills using the DSLR camera as well as learning new techniques using different light sources. The group produced a series of professional style portraits using what they learned. 

A Yr10 GCSE Art Group had the opportunity to take part in an art workshop led by artist Fandangoe Kid and Bow Arts, taking place alongside the THAT Schools Art exhibition at Art Pavilion Mile End. 

‘THE FANDANGOE KID is a multidisciplinary artist, who makes work predominantly for the public realm. Her practice seeks to create platforms for dialogue on the complexities of life, death and the human condition.’ (Web, 2023) 

The students discussed themes around protest, various social causes that are currently relevant and the use of banners and visual elements such as lettering and colour in banners. They then brainstormed around a cause that they are personally interested in, with causes such as Gender Equality, the right for education and racism. 

They then used acrylic paint to create an immediate response using words and slogans for that particular cause. Students used bold colours and experimented with typography, scale and contrast. At the end of the session, the banners were showcased and a discussion was held around their visual impact and the reasons why students were passionate about their cause.