Thirteen secondary school pupils learned to think more creatively while “drifting” through a local village.
Moray Art Centre’s trial six-day course titled ‘Listening to the Land’ – funded by the Newbold Legacy Trust – was run during the October break, taught by MAC director, Duncan May, and Principal Teacher of Art at Forres Academy, Helen Cole.
Duncan explained that the pupils – all from Forres Academy’s Art department – were sent into Findhorn with set rules on timed movement and drawing known as ‘The Drift’.
He said: “They made quick sketches and notes focusing on senses of change and permanence, and other opposite qualities of the village as contrasts tend to define places, things and people.
“Through photography, drawing, painting, writing and sculpting, the students examined what they noticed and what they missed initially, experimenting to see if they could find new things about their sense of place.”
Duncan pointed out that this form of creative thinking covers the ‘creativity’ skills Education Scotland and Skills Development Scotland promote in schools.
Helen confirmed her pupils were open-minded and curious, embracing new ways of seeing and expressing the world around them.
She said: “I am so proud of how hard they worked during their holidays, showing such dedication, imagination and creative courage.
“Every one of them has been changed by the experience. They are more confident, thoughtful and connected to their creativity and to the landscape that inspires it.”
Day one entailed a sensory walk around the village, “mind mapping” Findhorn and writing reflectively.
Day two involved beach combing for materials to sculpt with, observational drawing and photography, drawing and painting from memory. The pupils also tried experimental narrative writing.
They sculpted with found materials on the third day, painted and made collages on the fourth, recombining ideas about sense of place.
They chose their best work and planned an exhibition on day five, then set up and opened the event at MAC on the final day.
“We wanted the pupils to teach how to see the world from a new angle, how art becomes a tool for thinking and for problem solving,” said Duncan. “We wanted them to see the parts of the puzzle and then put it back together in new ways, in ways they would not have done before these new experiences.”
He finished: “We are incredibly proud of our young artists and their achievements. They forged connections with a space that is rich in history and beauty. The project is a testament to the power of creativity and community engagement.”
Another trial creative thinking through art project is set to run for eight days in Dyke Primary School in January called ‘The Odyssey: Journeys Home’.
The academy pupil’s Listening to the Land exhibition is on at MAC from January 31 until February 22.
