Pupils From St Boniface Work In A Forge
Pupils from St Boniface Roman Catholic College in Plymouth experienced the excitement of working in a forge when they bent, twisted and shaped steel bars, in their first hot metalwork class with local artists Katie Lake and Noah Taylor.
St Boniface is one of three Plymouth schools working to design and create a large metal and glass screen that will be the focal point in the reception area at local law firm Foot Anstey’s new waterfront offices at Salt Quay in Sutton Harbour. The panels will be installed when Foot Anstey leave their current office in Derry’s Cross and move into Salt Quay House in Spring 2009.
Six ‘Gifted and talented’ Yr 8 pupils were selected by the Head of Art at St Boniface to draw and work in three dimensions by bending wire to interpret the screen’s themes - the sea and the harbour. Katie showed them examples of her work to inspire them in thinking how their designs could be created in metal.
During the workshop they learnt new skills taught by the artists and used heat, forging, welding and other techniques to create tapered and reverse twist pokers, which utilised skills that Katie will use in the finished screen.
Katie was full of praise for the children “The boys were enthusiastic, motivated and loved every minute of their day, they produced some stunning work which will be displayed at the school and at the launch exhibition of the screen unveiling. They were a pleasure to teach’’
Jayne Wills, Head of Art from St Boniface School said "What a fantastic opportunity for the boys, an experience they will never forget. We would welcome a return visit and future partnership working, such a great facility and a unique service’’
Foot Anstey has teamed up with the Devon Arts in Schools Initiative (DAISI) to run this unique project which will give pupils opportunities to display their creative skills and work closely with a professional artist in the medium of metal.
Richard Jenkins from Foot Anstey, said “We hope the three local schools will find this a rewarding opportunity. Working with such a well known and experienced artist is a great opportunity to see, at first hand, an artist at work.
“The project should encourage the pupils’ talent and complement the school art curriculum.”
Katie is also working with pupils from two other schools Pomphlett and Woodford on this project
The schools were chosen as ones that had not been involved with professional artists through the work of the BAREFOOT project, Plymouths Arts in Schools Initiative agency.
Katie’s recent commissions include the Anchor at Gun Wharf and railings in Sutton Harbour, as well as private gate and railing commissions in London and the South East.
Published 10/12/2008
