18 December 2009

Art project sees pupils aid regeneration efforts

Photo opportunity: 2pm on Monday, December 21st at the sculpture studio, Matthew Building, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design. S6 pupils from Morgan Academy will learn traditional bronze casting techniques under the tutelage of local sculptor Roddy Mathieson. Roddy can be contacted on 07866120213.

Senior pupils from Dundee’s Morgan Academy will play their part in the regeneration of their community by taking part in a exciting collaborative project with sculptors from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design.

The scheme, initiated by Dundee City Council’s city development department and funded by the Fairer Scotland initiative, will see six S6 Advanced Art class pupils create a number of small sculptures and plaques to be installed in the Hilltown and Stobswell areas.

They will work with staff at the sculpture studio at DJCAD, part of the University of Dundee, during a series of four bronze casting workshops, the first of which takes place on Monday, December 21st. The pupils are currently working on their portfolios with a mind to applying to art schools, and the project has been designed to tie in with their coursework.

The workshops will be led by local sculptor Roddy Mathieson, Design Technician at the studio and proprietor of The Mobile Foundry. The project is supported by DJCAD, the City Council and the Stobswell Regeneration Project.

'As a resident of the Hilltown myself, I think it’s great to see this project put local youngsters at the heart of the regeneration process,” said Roddy. “This gives them the unique opportunity to take part in something that is artistic, environmental, and will lead to their work being displayed at a prominent public site. Hopefully, it will be a lot of fun for them as well.'

'Pupils will design their own works, and I will guide them through the mould-making process, furnace work and pouring of the metal. I will then polish the casts which will then be installed on the streets at Stobswell and Hilltown, and hopefully at the school itself.'

It is intended that the plaques will be installed by Easter. A second project, featuring pupils from St Johns High School, is scheduled to take place later in 2010. The Mobile Foundry was established eight years ago, and sees Roddy deliver bronze casting workshops to a variety of groups around Scotland.

Dundee City Council city development convener Cllr Will Dawson explained the project was conceived to reach out to young people who have an interest in the fine arts, and in helping to help regenerate their local communities.

'The works will be permanently placed in prominent locations in Stobswell and the Hilltown as meaningful additions to the built environment,” he said. “The project takes forward the need for communities' involvement in regeneration projects and provides a new dimension for local learning.'

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
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University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
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