North East Education & Library Board
Title: Sculpture Canteen
Artform: Visual/ 3D
Organisation(s): Ashgrove Primary School, Newtownabbey
Creative Partners: Grianne Kielty
Participants: 24+ 7-11 yrs olds

Synopsis: A visual Arts project in Ashgrove Primary School, tackling healthy eating through sculpture.

Laureen Magill was the Artist in Residence at Ashgrove Primary School for 14 weeks working closely with Mr Waddell, Head teacher and the Arts Co-ordinator for the school. Mr Waddell’s dream was for the children of his school to have the experience of working with an artist for a prolonged period of time and to address healthy eating in the school. Through careful planning and vision from the artist and the teachers involved, Grainne planned to work in willow with the pupils, which would then be installed in the canteen.

At the stages of the project, Grainne worked with the pupils on designs and ideas, of which food/vegetables that would be more aesthetically pleasing. After these decisions were made, the pupils along with Grainne began construction these huge structures in willow. This gave the pupils a greater grasp of 3D work and on a large scale. The pupils had to work together and resolve problems as well as make decisions together. The willow structures were then covered in tissue paper and PVA glue. Finally the carrots, fish, sprouts, chips, bake beans and Tatyo crisps were painted up and hung from the ceiling.