Twenty-six A-level artists set off from School early on October 1 and headed to Cambridge for two days of art making. The trip was great opportunity for pupils to get out and gain some real life inspiration in new, vibrant settings.
The first stop was the beautiful University Botanic Gardens, where the students explored and recorded the glasshouses, seeking out images and ideas to take forward in their projects. Using their pack of new art materials, they made drawings and paintings and also took lots of photographs.
After lunch they headed into the city centre to collect more ideas through drawing and photography, with challenges set by the teachers to get the students to think carefully about their interests as artists. The group were lucky enough to have a studio space to use in the city, which allowed pupils the chance to push their creative ideas further and collaborate over a few slices of pizza.
The following day, the group headed to Kettle’s Yard, which is part of the University of Cambridge. It is a house that was donated to the University in 1966 and which was the home of Jim Ede and his wife.
Ede was a curator at the Tate Gallery who had a remarkable collection of artworks which he displayed carefully in his home. He opened his house to students to experience art in a domestic space.
It is a very special place which remains unchanged, with artworks and beautiful objects throughout curated with precision. Kettle’s Yard also has a temporary exhibition space and we had the chance to see an unusual show entitled Material Power: Palestinian Embroidery.
The students were encouraged to consider the motives used in the garments, to make drawings and take photos as well as reflect on the quiet resistance that women demonstrated through the decoration of their clothing.
The rest of the time at Kettle’s Yard was spent in an artist-led workshop in the Clore Education space, where the students were set a challenge to play with motifs and colour using watercolour and masking tape. The final slot of time before heading home was back in the studio developing images and ideas.
Click below to see all of the pictures from this fantastic trip.
