out & about - the hepworth wakefield

Out & About 2017 came to The Hepworth Wakefield this week, considering sculpture AND the purpose built gallery itself, sited amongst derelict mills by the River Calder. Our school groups responded to The Gift, contorting their bodies into sculptural shapes, playing drawing games, drawing from description, drawing in teams. We used the floorspace in the learning studios to spread out and add depth, tone and colour to the communal drawings with graphite, charcoal and crayon. Participants pushed themselves, tried new approaches and some displayed pride in their achievements with mark making and card sculpture. It was odd/nice to be indoors. Next week Out & About travels to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park for the final adventure of this wonderful project. 

 

Stick drawing

 Four sided drawings of The Hepworth Wakefield

 Drawn and folded responses to The Gift

Body poses and story building in response to sculpture

Cut, slot and fold

 Large scale in the learning studios

 Action in gallery 5

 Drawing from description

out & about - nostell priory

Last week, Out & About 2017 continued with a visit to Nostell Priory near Wakefield. We considered this landscape in relation to Brimham Rocks, noticing how constructed it was, how designed and pleasing to the eye. Ideas around curation were introduced and working in pairs or teams the three groups drew with wool and used natural materials to make their mark. We framed the work, thinking about near, far, high and low viewpoints. Some wore frames as hats, which was rather jolly! 

 Suspended sticks

 Frame off!

 Mother and daughter working together

  Mother and son, creating using gathered materials

 Hugs

 Red tangle

 Ambitious wool drawing, framed...

Frame focus

out & about - brimham rocks

The Hepworth Wakefield Out & About 2017 project began during the first week of February with two trips to Brimham Rocks in very different weather conditions, clambering, climbing, drawing while walking, sharing words and creating sculpture from found objects. Out & About focuses on landscape and sculpture, exploring varied outdoor settings in Yorkshire, while considering Barbara Hepworth's work and far reaching legacy. More to come... watch this space!

Exploring together

 The Idol

 Misty afternoon for our Wednesday group

 Fridays group hitting the weather jackpot!

 Rice paper

 Standing tall

 Found sculpture

Rock playground

art social

This week I spent an enjoyable half hour engaging in an activity led by the Art Social young people's group at The Hepworth Wakefield. Art Social selected and placed four artworks in Gallery 1, producing interpretation text and poems to accompany the work. They invited gallery visitors to create their own poems using pre-written words. Below is my poem in response to A Picnic.

The Eva Rothschild sculpture brought back memories, as she was the first contemporary artist to exhibit in the gallery when THW opened in May 2011.

 Eva Rothschild,  Wandering Palm, 2011

Jesmonite, aluminium, patent leather

Albert Wainwright, A Picnic 1928

Ink & wash, watercolour on paper

out & about 2017

I'm on the cusp of Out & About 2017! In 2014 I was lead artist on the project, so am recycling, redeveloping & reinventing for todays participants.

Working with three Wakefield secondary schools we are, literally, getting out & about. During the project we will consider Hepworth and her legacy, natural landscape, designed landscape, sculpture in the gallery and sculpture in the landscape. Our exploration is made easy with the wealth of sites and venues on our doorstop: Brimham Rocks, Nostell Priory, The Hepworth Wakefield and Yorkshire Sculpture Park. 

I'm looking forward to lacing up my walking boots, layering up (we are working outside!) and inviting pupils and parents to play, explore, share and create together.

With heartfelt thanks to The Hepworth Wakefield for inviting me to work on Out & About 2017. 

 Prompts in the 'discover for yourself' activity backpack

 Clore Learning Studios at THW

Shiny new!

the hepworth wakefield

A stroll around the building on a bright winters day.

tricky

My latest commissioned embroidery, tricking people into thinking it's a pencil drawing. Washed, ironed & ready for framing. 

Branch, 2017 (commission)

Hand embroidery on handkerchief that belonged to my aunt

Polyester thread, cotton