Summer art club takes pupils back to the prehistoric era

The sessions launched last week at the charity’s workshop in Mill Street, with pupils learning about and creating art from the prehistoric era.

The timeline will move forward each week, with the final week at the end of August dedicated to showcasing all of the pupils’ creations from the preceding weeks.

Curation director Jock Pettitt said the idea for the programme came about after looking for clubs and activities for his daughter Milla, 8, to participate in during the summer holidays.

‘We wanted to offer kids something stimulating, enriching and engaging that was a bit different to other clubs. We’ve already had parents telling us that their children have been asking when they can come back and when the next session is running. They’re delighted at the value for money and at what is being offered.’

This week’s activities have included mimicking cave paintings, hand printing, mask-making and sculpting.

‘All of what they’re making are valuable resources, as they will be able to see exactly how they fit into the timeline at the end of the eight weeks,’ Mr Pettitt said.

Freelance illustrator Hugh Rose, who helped design the programme with education director Lucy Brimmage, said that seeing the reactions of the children to the art they had made had been enjoyable.

‘Having been an art teacher, sessions like these allow the kids to go off on creative tangents and explore far more deeply than they otherwise would be able to in a classroom setting. By learning about prehistoric art, you’re also learning about how people at that time thought and expressed themselves, which I think is fascinating.’

Gallery manager Megan Wyatt-Nicolle said that the programme would give the workshop a new lease of life.

‘The opportunity for the children to both see and do so much is brilliant, and with the space we have available it really allows them the chance to get creative and get stuck in, even if it does get a bit messy at times.’

Issy Rhodes, 11, said that she had enjoyed making both her mask and sculpture.

‘Cavemen used masks so that’s why we made them, while for my sculpture I designed it to be half-eagle, half-mask. I got the idea for it from the ancient Egyptians.’

Six-year-old William Ashby said that learning about prehistoric times had been exciting. 'Drawing cavemen in charcoal was fun, as that’s what they did thousands of years ago.’

• More information about Art For Guernsey can be found on its website: https://artforguernsey.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArtForGuernsey