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After having a very successful exhibit as part of the New Mills Festival’s Art Trail, it is with sadness for me to announce the end of the Arts Council funded Wild about Ceramics project… However! The project has created a legacy; since late September there has been an oversubscribed weekly after school ‘Clay Club’ for the pupils of New Mills School, which I look forward to continue organising in the new year…
The New Mills Festival Art Trail is now live! All the artists and info about Art in the Window and the Big Weekend can be found on the website. Information about my exhibit at Venues 17 (New Mills Library) and 59 (Wright Shoes) can be found here: https://www.newmillsfestival.com/wild-about-ceramics
The Festival Brochure has been printed and has started to be distributed around the area… It can also be viewed and printed following the below links:
Click to access printable-events-brochure-2019.pdf
Click to access printable-artists-brochure-2019.pdf
Meanwhile, here are a few of the finished pieces the pupils of New Mills School have created, and will be exhibiting in the Art Trail…
Wow it has been such a busy couple of months! I have finally updated all the sections under the “Wild about Ceramics 2019” heading (at the top of the screen)… Pages include info and images about: the ceramics the pupils have made, the NGS weekend, the after-school staff clay session, the RHS Tatton garden AND the recent trip to the Manchester Museum!!! During the summer holidays I shall be busy ensuring as much clay work gets fired as possible, in time for the September New Mills Arts Trail…
Here are pages from the New Mills School July Newsletter that feature what I have been doing at school. Entire Newsletter can be read here: https://www.newmillsschool.co.uk/assets/Uploads/Downloads/Newsletter-July-2019.pdf
Finally(!) after ten weeks all the lovely work from the Crafts Council’s Hey Clay! session on Saturday 18 May have been stoneware fired and ready to collect from September 2019. I am so happy with how they have all turned out – the sgraffito tiles are particularly successful, with all the amazing individual designs. I look forward to returning all the ceramics back to their owners…!
It has been a busy first day of New Mills School’s National Garden Scheme weekend! As part of this event, today I have been and tomorrow I will be running free drop-in Art workshops in the School’s library space (situated next to the yummy tea and cake area!) where you will get the opportunity to create a 3D paper or clay flower, inspired by the beautiful flora in the surrounding gardens. Also on display inside is an installation of “Save Nature Flowers”, created this week by the new soon-to-be Year 7 students starting at NMS this September.
Further details below:
It has been such a busy few weeks! Firstly, ACE “Wild about Ceramics” is speeding along – lots of clay items for the school gardens and New Mills Arts Trail awaiting firing and decorating… More info and images here: https://jadealanaart.wordpress.com/wild-about-ceramics-2019/botanical-impressions-sgraffito-tiles-bug-bowls/
Secondly, the Crafts Council’s Hey Clay! came to New Mills – over forty participants came and played with clay. It was a fantastic day and I would definitely love to host another next year…! More info and images here: https://jadealanaart.wordpress.com/creative-workshops/hey-clay-at-new-mills-school-2019/
…next big dates are 6th & 7th July – the National Open Garden Scheme for New Mills School… and 17th-21st July RHS Tatton Park Flower Show…. Phew!
I’m delighted to announce this year I shall be running a Crafts Council ‘Hey Clay!’ event at New Mills School! Join me Saturday 18th May 2019 for a two hour workshop to create your own botanical ceramics…
Using flora from the School grounds you will first create imprinted plant pockets. After you’ll be introduced to a decoration technique called sgraffito to create your own botanical-inspired tile. All clay work made on the day will be fired at a later date (also free of charge), and arranged to be collected at a convenient time.
ALL WELCOME: free event for adults and children but booking is essential:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/hey-clay-at-new-mills-school-derbyshire-tickets-58501364155
More information here: https://www.craftscouncil.org.uk/listings/hey-clay-at-new-mills-school-high-peak
As part of the “Wild about Ceramics” project, taster clay workshops have begun at New Mills School – firstly working with very enthusiastic year 7 pupils, then with a mix of year 8 and year 10’s. This week will see yr 9 and year 11 pupils having a go at making porcelain paper-clay bugs… I’m very impressed with everything created so far!
More images from these workshops here: https://jadealanaart.wordpress.com/wild-about-ceramics-2019/taster-workshops-clay-bugs/
Very exciting news to announce – I have been accepted as an artist-in-residence at New Mills School! Arts Council England have granted me funding for the project “Wild about Ceramics”: the pupils from the school will explore themes of declining wildlife, through ceramics and mixed-media. These workshops will culminate in artwork being displayed in the gardens and exhibited throughout 2019.
This project uses the art of clay to engage young people with issues of ecology and biodiversity. My ceramics exhibition “APOIDEA”, installed at Manchester Museum, is the starting inspiration; it is displayed alongside museum specimens and artefacts, and part of a digital VR experience of how an Orchid Bee pollinates plants. I will be in residence with New Mills School, working with students, art and science teachers, and the school gardening group, exploring the exhibition’s themes of declining wildlife, whereby I will be renewing ceramic practice within the school. Additionally, I will be working alongside the school’s John Muir Award project, and with the RHS Tatton Park Garden project….
…… so a very busy year ahead – and watch this space for updates!
Jade Alana Art 