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Mrs Howell and students from the library have been inspired by the knitting skills of Ingrid Warner to develop their own idea, itself influenced by Yoko Ono’s recent work in Gateshead.
Students have combined their creativity and their environmental concerns by knitting clothes for a tree!
This symbolises our need to protect nature and the environment. Green wishes and messages hang leaf-like from the branches of the tree, reinforcing the environmental message.
Wednesday 4th March 6.30 – 9.00
Year 12 Enterprise students have organised an art exhibition to take place in the Main Hall on Wednesday evening. As part of their business plan, they have invited local artists, businesses, craft makers and craft shops to come and present their work that will be available for purchase on Wednesday evening.
Please come along to support the exhibition.
Year 7 pupils worked with a Chinese artist on a range of activities to celebrate Chinese New Year. They designed lanterns, worked on puppetry and created a large and colourful dragon that now adorns the library walls.
To build on the enthusiasm created by our Big Knit chair, we decided to give everyone the opportunity to try Big Knitting in a communal textile project based in the Library.
Brightly coloured strips were knitted using two or more strands of yarn, which were then stitched together to make a wall hanging to represent the body of a dragon forming the centrepiece of our Chinese New Year celebrations. We used chunky and extra chunky needles adapted by our technology department from old donated drumsticks and “Smart Price” broom handles. Yarns of different colours and textures were purchased from clearance bargains from a local firm.
About 100 people, both students and staff contributed. Several pieces of knitting were on the go at once. People just popped into the Library and knit a few rows whenever they had a spare moment. One person picked up and continued the knitting when another had put it down. Some learned knitting for the first time. Those who didn’t knit made pompoms for the border. Others were happy winding balls of wool from cones. For two weeks the atmosphere was relaxed, most sociable and extremely industrious.
Finally the panels were joined and a gold crocheted border added. Baubles, bows and pompoms provided the finishing touches. The result is a wonderful Dragon wall-hanging 4.5 metres in length
Textile artist and Big Knitter, Ingrid Wagner worked with a group of Year 10 and Year 11 students on a two-day group project using recycled fabrics and yarn.
The project of course began with research, planning and preparation. Using “The Angel” as an inspiration and source, the students listed and discussed what the angel meant to them – powerful, embracing, trust, shelter, safety, security, proud, protecting, a landmark.
It was decided that the textile piece would be a panel made up of sections like the Angel’s wings, which would then be used as a chair covering. This would demonstrate many of the Angel’s qualities- somewhere to visit, to sit, to read or reflect; somewhere safe to snuggle into, to wrap around and embrace you; a monumental structure to offer protection.
Lines and phrases from a selection of “Angel” poetry and prose were written on white material, cut into strips and machined together. This textual yarn was to be knitted into the border of the covering, together with frozen secrets. The remainder of the yarn was then prepared by cutting strips of fabric (old clothes and curtains) and winding into balls. Each section was to be knitted using two colours of fabric and one strand of wool.
The palette of colours was chosen from a variety of stimulus photos of the Angel, which reflected many changing moods – bronze, white, red, rust, yellow, orange, pink, beige, and brown.
Next was the challenge of learning to knit on huge needles! Most of the students had never knitted before.
The following morning everyone picked up their knitting and continued as if they had been knitting all their lives. There was a wonderful atmosphere with lots of social chat and very quickly the panels had grown.
Two o’clock. Stop the knitting. The assembly was like an episode of “Sixty Minute Makeover”. The sections were cast off and arranged on the floor. They were bound together with cotton strips – sewing without a needle. The border was knitted and bound on too. It was a great team effort and we did it. By three o’clock the work was complete. We don’t just love it, we adore it. Hope you like it too.
Of course, a huge thank you to Ingrid. She was fabulous to work with, had great ideas, a unique style, and a warm and generous personality. The students are proud of their achievement and will remember this creative experience with great affection.
Vivienne Howell
Whickham School
December 2008
To celebrate the 10th birthday of the Angel of the North, Whickham School students were among five groups of young people who were asked to create and animate their stories about where the Angel goes when we're not looking.
Click the image to watch An Enchanted Evening created by our Year 10 Media Students:
Adam Hawthorn
Jennie Martin
Bryony Lowdon
Tom Robinson
Andrew Gallagher
Hannah Craven
Gemma Bloomfield
Lucy Hailes
Time for Bed was created by our Year 11 Media Students:
Jason Bell
Nadeem Khan
Maria Maan
Adam Hails
The annual Whickham School Art exhibition takes place on Wednesday 2nd July from 7-9.00p.m. in the Main Hall and The Art Department.
The exhibition showcases some of the superb art, ceramics and textiles work produced by our students over the past year. We hope to include an on-line record of highlights from the exhibition soon.
The Art department is rightly proud of the work produced by students whose achievements have contributed greatly towards our Artsmark Gold status.
Every year, the work of students is celebrated at a display evening where guests view the work of our students in a warm and friendly atmosphere.
In this on-line gallery, we provide examples of some of the creative and inspiring work produced by our students.
