Wednesday, October 9, 2013

About The House With Wings

Prehistory (panel 4 of 4), Copyright Rufus and Heather Marsh, 2010


A few statements about my approach to art making: 

1) Art is not about making 'good' pictures. Art is about ideas, the world, us.



2) Because art is about ideas it is unique in that it can intersect with EVERY other area of learning. For many kids, it can be a way in to other educational successes. 



3) There is no template for art. The whole point is to explore, investigate, discover, express, observe, share, experience...


  
4) Art is a bit like science. A good scientist doesn't have the answer before they start (or at least they are open to being wrong) 

5) Never dumb it down. To children there is no such thing as a 'big' word. Ask any five year old what their favourite dinosaur is and you will find that out 



6)  Allow for mess ups. Making mistakes is part of the process 



7) Play, have fun


Monsters in Space (panel 3 in frieze), Copyright Rufus and Heather Marsh, 2010








Children are exciting collaborators. They enrich and enliven the way I think about making art. 

Since working with children I have discovered new ways of creating work in my own practice. 
As a direct result of working with preps and ones, I created new mixed media and collage works on paper, one of which has recently been accepted for publication in a national arts journal.  


The (next) big thing, Copyright Heather Marsh, 2013
Because children aren't afraid to ask questions (lots of tricky questions!) 
I have had to think more deeply about my knowledge of art. 
I have had to question the artificial boundaries we place around art and the assumptions of the big institutions of art - the styles, forms and the way the big 'white walled galleries' assign importance.  

I consider working in collaboration with children and young people an integral part of my ongoing growth and creativity as an artist and as a person. 

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Thanks,
Heather