|
Garth
| Randy | Diary
| Masks | Portraits
| Course | Exhibition
Portraits
at 6000 miles
Charles Sinclair,
Axe Valley School
Anthony Cain, Westerford High School
The Idea
This project
involves exchanging information between individuals who
cannot physically be in each other's presence in order
to make portraits of each other. In this example 50 students
in Axminster teamed up with an equivalent number in Cape
Town, the students were all about 14 years old, year 10
in England, grade 9 in South Africa.
Exchanging
information
A relatively
simple form was devised that allowed students in each
country to write down biographical details about themselves
and included more colourful questions such as 'What is
your most embarrassing moment?' A picture, often no bigger
than a passport photo was also included.
In order to
stimulate a deeper interest in the other culture, students
had to specify their favourite national artist, this artist
their partner had to research and include reference to
in their portrait.
The Portraits
The paintings
are to be created on A2 paper. There were no other stipulations
put on them except common sense dictated that collaging
any items onto the paper was not realistic as they were
to be sent by post.
Communications
Establishment
of the initial links were done on the Crossings visit
to cape Town in October 1998. Undoubtedly, this made the
setting up of the project relatively easy. In the first
half hour of meeting we had the project fleshed out. Subsequently,
telephone, fax, email and post were necessary to maintain
the momentum and to convey the varying requirements of
each establishment to the other. The final pieces of work
are to be sent to the partner school for exhibition and
for the subjects of each portrait to see what a complete
stranger has made of them. Neither was working an exact
likeness realistic from a passport sized photo. This was
a clear benefit in that it allowed the students to be
much more creative with their interpretations, using exciting
compositions and a wide range of graphic techniques and
a selective use of the information provided.
Spin Offs
As hoped the
initial exchange of forms sparked off an interest in their
partner so several students are now in more regular contact,
some trying email for the first time. Once the portraits
are complete and exchanged it is hoped this will stimulate
further links.
Pictures from
Westerford
 |
 |
Kathryn
Every
by
Amy Miller |
Sarah
Sivills
by
Cassy Buchanan
|
 |  |
Rebecca
Wall
by
Danielle de Kock |
Felicity
Maguire
by
Katherine Freemantle
|
 |  |
Gemma
Stevenson
by
L. Laborowski |
Shaun
Llewellyn
by
E. Babb
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