Di McGhee
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StatementI am a visual artist who also creates art projects in schools. Initially trained as a stained glass designer at Edinburgh College of Art I moved on to study art in architecture, which focused on public art and site specific artworks.
As my own children began their primary education, I became interested in how art was used in schools. I took this further and studied for a PGCE as an art and design specialist in 2000.
This partnership I have made has fuelled many art projects including stained glass projects, mosaics, felt-making, paper works and installations, usually adventurous and on a big scale!
I have enjoyed the benefits of working in bigger spaces, bigger numbers of participants to produce bigger artworks.
I am fascinated with the concept of transforming 2D into 3D artworks and the educational environment seemed to be the ideal place to explore these ideas. One area I am particularly interested in is that of creating spaces and environments that use the nature of stained glass with light sources.
To create larger areas of colour I moved to working with transparent papers, tissue and natural objects rather than glass. These could then be made into a summerhouse, a camp or storytelling tent. Structures can be ready-made ones or made by the children themselves from willow or construction systems.
In an early years context these magical environments can be used for role play activities and creative play. In the example I have included, Springhouse, the workshop complemented the children's project on spring and growth. I wanted to create a space for performance as well as a space for play, a stage for the 'Pea Pod Song'.
Once the structure is complete then the artwork can be extended by giving children a light source (a small torch) helping them to create their own light performance by using movement, dance and light inside the space.
It is essential to have a dialogue with any workshop partner. In an early years situation I would liaise with early years staff about current topics that could be resource for the project, it's nice to use what the children are currently fired up about which also enriches their school experiences.
My role as an artist is to provide a valuable experience and an insight into what an artist does and how they work. I would always provide experience of the design process, but most importantly my aim is to inspire. |
Experience Art in education 2004 Springhouse Project, Cleator Moor Nursery, Cleator Moor2001 Mosaic Project 'The Shore', Garth Infants, Workington
Qualifications
BA Hons Design - Stained Glass PG Dip - Art in Architecture PGCE - Primary |
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Projects |
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Springhouse, 2004 , Cleator Moor Nursery
I was asked to contribute to Art Day with a project in which all the children could be included. The project had to be planned around a structure of a morning and an afternoon session and within a more..." |
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