News
Wednesday, 23 February 2011
Children get crafty ahead of Oxfordshire Artweeks
Youngsters across the county are preparing to take part in Artweeks this spring. Twenty of the county’s schools are preparing their exhibitions, and several child artists are even hosting their own. Children at West Kidlington Primary School are exploring the history of science through art, including topics ‘The Victorians' and 'Keen to be Green', working with Helen Jacobs, a visual and textile artist and Lizzy McBain, a story teller and theatre director. Their work will be exhibited at an open day during Artweeks.
In the city centre, award-winning Lucien Ohanian, age 12, will be showing local and abstract photography and in Kennington, Anthony White, also 12, will exhibit artwork inspired by British heritage, Russian soul-hunting & music.
Esther Browning, Executive Director of Artweeks says “Children will be surprised to find bold sculptures in beautiful Oxfordshire locations, delighted by vibrant and colourful illustrations and photographs, and intrigued by magical 2D and 3D art created from every material imaginable. We hope they’ll enjoy having the chance to talk to the makers, to hear how they started out and why they work the way they do, even to have a try, and then go home and have a go at creating something wonderful themselves.”
Artweeks, which runs from 7th-30th May this year, is keen to open up the festival to younger visitors and there are more events for children than ever before. From April onwards, venues will be offering Artweeks activities and workshops, including modelling figures inspired by Greek and Roman art, discovering the secrets of Leonardo da Vinci’s Renaissance art, and meeting famous children’s author-illustrators Tony Ross and David McKee at the first ever Blackwell’s Festival of Illustration.
Hundreds of artists will open their doors and welcome visitors to see their recent work and work in progress. The exhibitions are largely in homes and halls where children are welcomed, so it’s an easy way for families to see vibrant art locally.
All events and family-friendly exhibitions are listed in the Artweeks festival guide, which will be available from April in libraries, at local information points and on the Artweeks website.
