Carols, Culture and Creativity

Just been to the Mandeville School carol concert at St Mary's Church. A really good evening with a programme that ranged from Islamic Nasheeds, raga through Bollywood dancing to Silent night with all the best carols in between. Also really good to hear (as a visual learner I was going to say 'see') teacher colleagues original arrangements and personal creativity. There are times when I really miss being a teacher in a school.

Primary Sculpture

I saw a really good sculpture in a primary school recently (Long Crendon).

The design came from children and it was made by a local sculptor welding the shapes cut from assorted pipes. Brilliant rusted orange colours. It is about values and the leaves that hang from the branches contain words by the children.

I've not seen anything like it in schools but it did remind me of the wonderful African 'tree of life' sculpture welded entirely from old guns, pistols and ammunition clips that was in the British Museum a couple of years ago.

Gormley and Chalfonts at Saatchi

Just a brilliant evening and thanks to Chalfonts Community College for inviting me. Went to the private view of the Saatchi Schools Prize where James Coffey a student at CCC was in the shortlist. The work was a delightful and simple animation entitled Miracle. Following the theme of low tec but sensitive I have added my mobile phone photo of Antony Gormley announcing the prizes and praising the students and their teachers. Technically rubbish but rather Gormleyesque in a modest sort of way I thought.

We (teachers) speculated that for the rest of his life James will visit the Saatchi Gallery and privately note that his work had also hung on that wall in that spot which is currently displaying an Emin or whatever. Evenings like this make it worthwhile. Well done Chalfonts Art Department.