Artists don’t make work they create conversations.
On Thursday last week I took part in an Aim Higher project Meet the Creator/Scientist where university students present their work to secondary school pupils at their school.
I’ve worked in secondary schools, but I had no idea what to expect from this event. I’d brought sketch books and my laptop but when the pupils poured in to the hall they were quickly attracted to the gadgets being presented by the scientists and engineers. So as not to look too disappointed I took some sheets of paper and started to fold as much out of nerves as to appear to be contributing in some way to the event. It wasn’t long before some student gathered and now came the real challenge – how do I explain my practice to a group of teenagers?
As soon as they arrived in the hall their first task was to fill in some paperwork. I used this to open up the discussion about using paper as a material. We discussed how paper could be used to oppress and how it can be used to liberate and how a blank sheet of paper represents possibility and therefore inspires creative action, illustrated by the fact that whilst we were chatting I was making an origami jumping frog.
From there it spiralled to conversations about the choices we make, the value of our time, communication and why people tell us things. Groups of students came and went and most made something with the paper whilst we talked. We swapped creations and shared our experiences with paper and communication and then it was all over.
On the way home I remembered why I loved working in schools and the community. Talking to ordinary people about what I’m doing makes it a real thing in the world. Having an audience present to witness the work and contribute to the conversation.
