In the Summer term, Key Stage 3 art students began their Barber Institute partnership journey. In the first event the students immersed themselves in a creative workshop led by poet Bradley Taylor, alongside staff from The Barber Institute of Fine Arts. The session began with an engaging introduction to the gallery’s rich history, followed by a live reading of Bradley Taylor’s poetry, which captivated the students.
Inspired by the experience, students were invited to craft written self-portraits, which were then woven together into a collaborative class poem. Each student shared their most powerful lines with Bradley, who compiled and typed up their work on his typewriter.
In the second workshop the students had the privilege of working with cartoonist Michael D. Kennedy. They were delighted to see examples of his work and had the opportunity to create their own pieces inspired by the Barber Institute’s gallery spaces.
In the third event the students were treated to a workshop delivered by collage artist Carli Kennedy. The students loved looking at examples from her portfolio and took inspiration from her working methods to create some expressive collages.
In the final event the students were presented with the zine that Michael D. Kennedy had compiled from examples of the collaborative pieces that they had made along with the work of two other local schools.
It was great to see the students enthusiastically exchanging ideas and expressing themselves in these workshops. It has been such a memorable and inspiring experience for all involved. We are so grateful for the support that The Barber Institute of Fine Arts has given us in taking part in the workshops and look forward to the students continuing their creative journeys.
Miss L. Walton
Subject Leader – Creative Arts
