A small exhibition at John Colet

A small exhibition, not because of the quantity and scale of the work, but because it all had to be exhibited in a small art room.  Building works made space a premium in the school so no other suitable space was available. But art teachers do make do. So desktop screens were made and painted and work was mounted cheerfully.

It was interesting to be at the start of something and to meet the first student in the school to do photography. She had made a fascinating photograph of the London Eye - part photograph, part sculpture. I understand that next year there will be many more students opting for photography. So it will be interesting to see that grow, although the department is wrestling with ways to resource it. A couple of old, small computers and Photoshop Elements may not be sufficient, and a teacher's personal laptop will only go so far. Despite the narrow confines of the exhibition, I did enjoy some fine painting and research books, especially a page devoted to Frank Auerbach.

Talking of the study of art I wonder if the success of the Tate Modern is in any way a consequence of the fact that the national curriculum has brought in the study of art and artists at every age, and all children now leave school knowing what art is and something about what an artist does. Study at 6th form level, as shown here, increasingly provides evidence of a rich understanding of the role of art and artists in our society. I do hope the deconstructing of the curriculum does not undo this.