Each year the Art department takes a number of educational trips looking at trending exhibitions, important historical artists’ works and sites that have significant cultural value. These include day trips and residentials where students can see ‘first hand’, works that they are studying and gain inspiration for their own ideas. In the last decade we have gone to New York (twice), Barcelona, Paris and London on residential Art trips as well as organising a whole range of day trips for various year groups in the school. This year the residential was closer to home in St. Ives Cornwall where we looked at the work of the various artists that made St. Ives their home. A level students used the experience to gain ideas for their Art, Photography and Sculpture work.
In spite of Storm Brian we ventured out into the landscape in Cornwall and students sketched and photographed images that will contribute to their A level courses. We visited the Newlyn Gallery and the Exchange where the challenging abstract work of Robyn Denny was on display and saw the studios of both Barbara Hepworth and Bernard Leech. At the Tate Roger, Holton’s painting ‘Oi Yoi Yoi’ provided the source of much debate on the value and purpose of Art. The town itself, with its many narrow lanes, vistas and galleries provided a rich starting point for creative outcomes.
The staff and students got stuck in with making food for each other at the Cohort Hostel where we stayed and even the evening entertainment (Blade Runner at the Cinema across the road) provided artistic inspiration. On the Sunday we rewarded ourselves with a two hour surf school session in the waves that Storm Brian kindly left in his wake.
