Expressing emotions

The second annual community arts project for the Faculty of Education and Social Work is currently underway, offering its staff and students an opportunity to explore their creativity.

Elinor Vettraino, Tutor on the BEd and PGCE courses, is heading up the project. She explains, "The project was established last year out of my desire to help the then newly-formed Faculty of Education and Social Work to come together and create a piece of artwork that was collaborative in nature."

For the first time the project is incorporating drama as well as art and design and students and staff from across the disciplines are welcome to take part. This year, the focus is on 'emotions' and the budding artists are creating work based around that theme.

Paul Barrowman a first year BEd student is working on a piece of photography. He says, "I am very passionate about music and it has opened up many doors for me, which is why I’m approaching the 'emotions' theme from that angle."

Alison Ralston a PGCE student is creating a textile piece. She explains, "I am using the fact that emotions are invisible - we feel them rather than see them. My piece can move or be moved, it could be worn as a veil or closed over like a curtain."

All participants in the project are using creative media to convey different emotions and project the idea of how art can express a range of feelings. Rebecca Taylor, a PGCE students says, "I believe emotions are involved in the creation of every piece of art. They are a reflection of what and how you are feeling at the time of creating the work perhaps personally or perhaps in response to some form of stimuli or context associated with the work undertaken."

A blackboard VLE site has been created to allow the students the chance to chat about their pieces, seek advice, share ideas on line whilst out on placement.

The exhibition will take place at the Bowes Lyon Gallery, Gardyne Road campus, on 28 May and all staff and students are welcome to attend.

top: Elinor Vettraino with a piece of sculpture entitled Growing together by BEd student Dawn Ridler-Hughes right: Community spirit by PGCE student Greg Robertson