Art Gallery Introduction

“If you know exactly what you are going to do, what’s the point in doing it?”

When Picasso posed this question he pinpointed both the excitement of making art and the uncertainty experienced in the process by pupils and teachers alike.

Art allows us to express things that words cannot communicate. So, with as few words as possible, here is a snapshot of the various guises of the Richard Challoner Art Department showing how different generations of pupils have made their creative mark upon it. Alas, the old Art Block is no more, but the latest intake at Richard Challoner is as creative as ever.

In 1991 a small group of sixth formers undertook a new, one year GCSE course for ‘mature’ students with the grand title: Creative Arts: Design Centred Studies. The teacher was allowed to set the brief, and, since I deemed it needed a bit of a face lift, the brief set was to design and paint a mural to improve the front of the Art Block. It certainly was quite an undertaking. Each student was responsible for a large panel, which he worked on in the art room for several months. Finally, one weekend, in the summer of 1992, thanks to the skill and co-ordination of my husband and a fantastic team effort by the boys involved, the panels were put in place and the Art Block was transformed. The mural, on the theme of creative people: artists, writers and musicians, brought a welcome splash of colour to the building and lasted for many years.

In 2004 the first Challoner Big Draw Event took place. The National Campaign for Drawing was launched to commemorate John Ruskin, the Victorian art critic and social reformer. He believed that when we draw we see things more clearly and care for them more. Knowing that the Art Block was due for demolition, it seemed fitting that the entire building should be turned into a ‘Giant Doodle’, both inside and out. For one week in October, everyone in the school was invited to take part, in art lessons, during break and at lunchtimes. Every possible internal and external area was covered in ‘creative marks,’: walls, windows, floors, doors, ceilings, cupboards!

And then it was time for a new canvas, a fresh start. Though it was full of character and had nurtured great creativity, the leaky roof and rodent visitors of the old Art Block had seen their day! To view our new 50th Anniversary Online Art Gallery, follow the link on the school website, where you will find images of our Art Exhibitions and events from many years ago right up to the present time. How will art at Challoner develop in the future? Well, I’m not quite sure, but then...

“If you know exactly what you are going to do, what’s the point in doing it?”

Mrs P. Dutton
Head of Art and Design

Richard Challoner School

Headteacher: Mr. T. Cahill

Sunday, 5th February. 2012

Art Gallery Introduction

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