Willow Park Junior School, visual arts

The Visual Arts in Willow
'Artist in the Classroom' initiative March 2009		Blackrock Education Centre and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council Arts Office have selected ten schools within their service area to take part in the 'Artist In The Classroom' programme.
		Willow Park Junior School is delighted and privileged to have been chosen as one of the schools to work alongside a leading artist. St Kevin's Second Form class is currently engaged in this Visual Arts course, led by Ms Aoife Dwyer. Ms Dwyer specializes in print-making and her work has been included in many group and solo exhibitions.
Ms Dwyer met with the class this week to discuss the potential of the project and to hear their thoughts and feelings about what the subject should be, what form it could take, how they would get ideas and inspiration and so on. It was decided that we would look at nature; in particular the sea, the shore and the related 'layers' of landscape such as the sky, the rocks, the Dart track, the road and so on.
		To this end, the class has been looking outside at nature and has already produced some fantastic observational sketches and environmental sculptures using natural materials (in the style of Land Artist Andy Goldsworthy.) We are planning to take the boys on some short outings near to the school so that they get the opportunity to work in environments less constrained than the school grounds.


I have been amazed by the response the boys have had to the project. Their enthusiasm and enjoyment so far have produced outstanding results. Please feel free to call in to the classroom to see their work in progress. Ms.Bairbre Ferriss, teacher of K2

	Daniel Wall's award-winning work in the Texaco Art Competition. Daniel who is currently in P4 was a special merit prize winner in the 9-11 age category. See other winning entries and be inspired to enter next year! www.texacochildrensart.com


Willow has always been a creative and expressive school, where boys can express themselves both physically and imaginatively.
In Willow, pupils follow the DES Arts’ curriculum within the classroom. In the visual arts, this curriculum includes interrelated activities in making art and in looking at and responding to art.
The Willow Junior shares an Art Room with Willow 1st Year, but in reality, most creative work takes place within individual classrooms and is on regular display on the school corridors. Pupils are encouraged to paint, sculpt, design and draw. The process of creation and the pleasure therein is emphasised and whilst talent is recognised, the importance of artistic expression and play lies at the core of artistic activity within the school. The visual arts are but one aspect of the Arts in Willow. The Arts became a living and natural expression within school and the resonance of that week continues throughout the year.