Creating Installations

Nov 162 min read

Hello!

Once upon a time before covid I used to be flat out doing work as an Artist in Residence - which I just love. For nearly 20 years I’ve been privileged to be invited to teach in schools.

Naturally when the world seemed to stand still the work disappeared.

Now that it’s starting to pick up again, I wanted to share with you a variety of these projects.

Many of them have been created with handmade felt and over the last few

years or so, I have been delighted to do more works in collaged watercolour and ink.

What exactly is that? Quite simply it is painted images and backgrounds that are cut out and then assembled as a collage.

To begin with, I plan with the teacher what the subject will be well in advance. This can take anything up to a year! It allows for time to have discussions with the students and receive their input as well. Many artists come into a school and do work on, or for, a particular area - essentially working on their own with the students observing.

I love knowing that the work I do has input from every student. From the littlest bird in a tree to the largest elephant by the waterhole, all play a part in making the installation.

The reward is seeing students locate their part in the finished design.

Although I once overheard a Grade 3 student inform his grandma "this is my best work yet"

as he showed her the whole piece!

Sometimes a brief will entail gathering a lot of information, especially when the subject is a school. Lots of photographing of different areas takes place that are a) important to the school and b) able to be translated into paint or felt.