Cressex Community School & BAM

Construction Ltd

World of Work

Project ProposalWorking with community artist Dionne Barber to produce 3 large painted images, to transform and define the covered courtyard area. With the proposed theme of “The work of Work” participants will shape the identity of the space. Exploring the different meanings of the theme and context to their experience of the new building.Students will work with Dionne in producing suitable designs- investigating the possibilities of working on such a huge scale. Using paint they will then learn how to translate the approved designs onto canvas; with participants gaining new skills, techniques and approaches.This project is a unique opportunity to work with an artist and experience working on such a large scale- with students artwork in such a prominent space, this will give them real ownership of the new School space.

Dionne works as a freelance artist; her practice focuses on working with others, sharing skills and facilitating projects for people to express themselves through paint. The most important thing for Dionne is for participants of her workshops to come away with a new and interesting experience. Dionne is an experienced community artist; and has worked on major projects ranging from working with disadvantaged teenagers to running family events.  “I think that the expressive and immediacy of my way of working would really bring out the potential and confidence in the participants. I love exploring ideas and giving others the skills and techniques to explore their own. I have lots of experience of working with varied areas of the community and have devised and run lots of diverse projects and workshops. Gaining the trust and building relationships with participants and staff is essential to achieve positive outcomes.”

Day 1- Design Day The World of Work ArtworkCressex Community School “The World of Work” project with Artist Dionne BarberAim:To design and create 3 large paintings (comprised of 5 canvas’s each) for the covered courtyard area in the new building. Theme & Project Title:The World of WorkDESIGN BREIFWorking with community artist Dionne Barber to produce 3 large painted images, to transform and define the covered courtyard area. With the proposed theme of “The work of Work” you will shape the identity of the space. Exploring the different meanings of the theme and experience of the new building.You will work with Dionne in producing suitable designs- investigating the possibilities of working on such a huge scale. In your groups please consider the following-The design will be split across 5 pieces- so please think about it as a picture cut in 5 strips horizontallyBrains storm what the Word of Work means to you- what images and thoughts come to mind?Think about big bold shapes that will work on a large scaleCreating images that will make people in the space feel positiveThe design does not have to be realistic- it could take the form of a pattern (perhaps inspired by the buildings structure)The design could contain people or objects related to the World Of Work, it could even tell a story with the people within it.May 24th Project introduction and Design DayLesson 18.50-9.40 Briefing Time; Dionne Barber powerpoint presentation on her own practice and project introduction and outline.Lessons 2 & 39.40-10.55 Students split into design groups & Site Visit; visiting Artwork location and photographing sources of inspiration and potential design ideas10.55- 11.25 BreakLessons 4 & 5 11.25- 1.05Design groups working on ideas/themes and meeting criteria of the project brief 1.05-1.35 BreakLessons 6 & 71.35-3.15Design groups presentation of ideas, followed by a group discussion lead by Dionne visualising ideas on final possibilities.Dionne will collate design outcomes and put together 3 final ideas for approval from School

I really liked Dionne's talk

about being an artist because it inspired me, and I got lots of ideas from it” Hana Ghani

DIONNE BARBERARTIST

Exhibitor & Art Educator

The Design day started with a presentation by Dionne Barber about her work

Followed by a visit to the new school site where students made sketches and took photographs

She talked about being an artist and what she had done before, it was really

interesting” Aroosa Rafia

First we met Dionne Barber the artist, she explained

what the aim was. She also showed us a PowerPoint

about what she does as an artist- this made why we were doing the project

easier to understand” Amreen Yasin

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We had a lot of fun that day. we went to the new school building site this really inspired us and

took us one step further to understanding of what and were our

designs are going to be”Aysha Waheed

On day one we took pictures of designs around the new school building site and we

used our pictures into our designs”Moin

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everyone drew their own ideas onto a sheet then we combined them to make the final design.

HANA GHANI

“On the design day we had to make our way down to the new school

building to get ideas to decide what we wanted to paint .I liked the idea of having blue on each canvas to make the space feel calm. On the design

day every one came up with different ideas but we all came to a decision

in the end”Tauseef

Students used findings from site visit to inform and inspire designs. Working in groups to brain storm

ideas. Using different drawing materials and techniques to visualise these. Followed by each

group giving a presentation, ending the day with a group discussion on agreed ideas

Design 1- Inspired by site visit; using the impressive angles and shapes of the

exterior architecture to draw from, with optimistic and calming blue skies behind (this blue will appear in each canvas to

connect the 3), a colourful layered pattern will be layered over the building

structure.

Designs

Design 2- Using Wycombe’s main shopping high street to signify the everyday world of work, creating an optical

illusion of space and movement

Design 3- Mirroring the structure of the interior space; creating an extension of the space, with the figures within the

space working and interacting, creating positive images of working life; with the figure creating the School logo out of

their shadows (casting onto the floor in front of them)

Days 2 & 3 Drawing with paint;Marking out, and learning how to Scale up Artwork, using application and colour techniques

We had a job and a section each to do. Everyone had their own special part to do. we had a really great experience”Aysha

When we were put into our groups we couldn’t work together but in the end everyone got the hang of things and

started working togetherRhianna

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Nichelle was the leader of our group and I was the deputy leader Nichelle was the worst in the group at the start but she felt the

same about me and at the end we worked together well and it all

I worked out at the end, I learnt how to work as a team” Moin

We got put into groups and where given sections of the painting to do at first we didn’t know anyone but then it got better

and we worked together well and got on in the end. Dionne Showed us different

painting techniques”Sidrah

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We started of with the lightest shade of colour then gradually built it up from there and added more detail. Dionne has taught me a lot about how to use colour

properly”Adam

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Days 4 & 5 Starting Design1, and working together as a large group of 20 to recognise and correct problems; using application techniques and visual skills and experience gained over previous sessions to inform this; using team work and respecting others in the process.

We were split into teams and according to our abilities we each had a certain job

in the group.” Anam

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We are doing this project to make the space feel welcoming, and it makes you proud that you come to the school” Sadia Khan

Its good working with people from different year groups” Nichelle

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Day 6Year 10 BETEC Group work on Design 3,Working in small groups, learning how to scale up and use colour and application to create space, then piecing together as a team and problem solving

It was fun; I have learnt how to create space & use light & dark- I have never

really thought about that before, and can use what I learnt in

the future” Jodie

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This project will be useful in my

future” Sadia “

Year 10 students learnt new techniques including Colour Mixing, application skills, creating depth and space using colour and

tone

Day 7

Students finishing artwork & making visual and written responses and feedback to project; including self and group evaluation

I found this project interesting because it was about our old school and our

new school. A skill that I have learnt is drawing skills. I have also learnt that you have to do light colours and then

you must do the dark colours”

Mariam

This project was really fun. I have found out how we use paint on canvas. It was hard working on a very big scale and I

thought that the project was going to be good, but not as good as it looks like

now”Sadia

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Year 7,8 and 9 were given the opportunity to work with a professional artist and were excited about having ownership of the paintings which will move with them to the new school. Many new skills were learnt, and the pupils were appreciative of the support and encouragement given by Dionne.

The project was extremely beneficial to the year 10 GCSE Art & Design pupils through working with a practicing artist; students gained different viewpoints, ways of working, and professional approaches to techniques. One Pupil commented that she had learnt an awful lot and gained confidence in being given freedom to express her self on a large scale”

Helen Manley Head of Art

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Artwork refined by

Dionne Barber,

ready for installation in

the New School

www.dionnebarber.com