The Large Huts, by Christina Mackie. Photo by Morsal from Regent's Park community College


A few days ago I revisited the New Art Centre in East Winterslow, Wiltshire. I’d met with Lucy Salisbury the Education Co-ordinator back in September and since then we have been discussing running a series of Big Art Mob workshops at the centre with school students.

This was the first of the series and I expected a few local kids – but no, they had bussed them in all the way from Southampton to spend a day out of school devoted to art! After introductions from Lucy and myself, the group of girls from Regent’s Park Community College, the Head of Art and one of the Deputy Headteachers were treated to a tour of the grounds at Roche Court by staff and a volunteer. During their tour, they photographed many of the fantastic works of art on view and we posted them to the Big Art Mob site with the students' comments.

Jonty Archibald, Deputy Headteacher at Regent’s Park and an ex Art and Design Chief Examiner and senior art moderator was very keen on the whole Big Art Mob concept and says:

'Modern technologies like mobile phones should be encouraged to enable students record and develop ideas. Current mobile phones have high quality resolution for both still and moving images. Modern technologies should be used alongside other forms of recording: drawing, painting, photography, sculpture and writing.’

It seems that this can even fit in well with GCSE work. He continues,

‘There are clear assessment objectives used in marking art work, and images created using modern technogies can be assessed against typical examination objectives like 'Record observations, experiences and ideas that are appropriate to intentions' (from Edexcel GSCE assessment objectives).'

It was great to hear someone in the teaching profession being so positive about the kind of thing Big Art Mob can offer and I really enjoyed my visit. The sculpture on show in the grounds was well presented and nicely complemented by a stunning exhibition of contemporary photographic work in the gallery. I'm pretty sure that both the New Art Centre staff and the school group enjoyed themselves too. We certainly got some great images onto the site. The students really thought about what they were photographing and how best to compose their images. Fortunately the tour of the grounds and the Moblogging were completed before the heavens opened and Wiltshire got a good soaking! See more at the Regent’s Park Community College group page.

Nick Pearson
Big Art Project website manager

Public Art in the news today - both the big Banksy sale at Bonhams in Knightsbridge last night (£565,000 in sales, originally estimated to go for £300,000) and noise around B of the Bang in Manchester:

"The makers of the controversial B Of The Bang sculpture are being sued for £2 million because it is unsafe.

The designers of the 56m (184ft) Manchester landmark have been accused of negligence by council bosses after it failed to meet safety standards. They have also been told that major work is needed to finish the £1.4 million structure, which remains fenced off four years after it was due to be completed.

The action against the design team – including artist Thomas Heatherwick – comes after a catalogue of mishaps.

The cost of B Of The Bang rocketed from £750,000 to £1.4 million because the initial quote did not include installation.
To make matters worse, its official opening was delayed by 18 months and a spike fell off causing the closure of a nearby road. The sculpture is still sealed off." [more]

see more at today's Metro online