To end the academic year in spectacular fashion, Plymstock School once again organised its annual Art Exhibition, writes Erin Downes.
Showcasing artwork from students aged between the ages of 11 and 18, the show strived to celebrate the creative achievements of all students.
This was further encouraged by the head of art, Olly Hurd-Thomas, who worked hard to create an inclusive show where everyone felt welcome to showcase their artwork, not only those who had studied art.
The pieces of artwork entered for the exhibition could have been made in school or out of school, and in any media – whether that be 2D, 3D, textiles, photographic, digital, or any other medium students could think of.
Whilst this show was an exciting opportunity for all involved, for many of Plymstock’s post-16 art students, this event was a final opportunity to celebrate their artwork before they head off to further education.
When speaking to Ruby Nathan, who is now leaving Plymstock to study special educational needs and disabilities studies, she emphasised the positive impact the exhibition had on those involved.
She highlighted the length of time taken to compile the eclectic mix of artwork on show, as some pieces (such as their coursework material) were crafted over a long period, whereas exam pieces were much stricter, with only three days to complete. The skill of many of these students to create such a beautiful range of artwork in these strict time restrictions simply added to the awe of the visitors.
Ruby stressed this herself, commending the other students’ work and emphasising how nice it was to see everyone else’s artwork as [she] got to see their progress and development.
When speaking about displaying her own work at the exhibition, Ruby said:
“I enjoyed arranging my artwork and it felt very rewarding seeing the public and friends compliment my photography.”
However, she also emphasised that they ‘couldn’t have done it without the help and support from teaching staff.’
The eclectic range of artwork on display emphasised how subjective art can be, and how it doesn’t have to conform to traditional values of ‘good artwork’ to evoke emotion.
This celebration of the beauty of art encouraged students to delve deeper into their own creativity, with students utilising a range of styles and influences.
Some students even used their distinct voices to send political messages through the artwork they had created, with one, in particular, discussing the inauguration of Donald Trump in January 2017.
To continue to encourage this mindset of creativity inside and outside of the classroom, there were also awards presented based on a student and teacher vote.
Many students were celebrated based on their efforts to approach lessons in an innovative way. These included awards for creativity in all subjects, including science, English and drama, among others.
In the staff awards, religious studies teacher Debbie Slade was especially lucky, winning Most Creative Teacher for multiple years in a row.
Congratulations to all students who displayed artwork in the exhibition, as well as all of those who won awards – we look forward to seeing how you use your creativity in the future.
