DHSZ Weekly Art Challenge
During our recent period of online learning, the Art department at Dulwich International High School Suzhou launched an exciting new venture designed to inspire and engage our students.
The Weekly Art Challenge was designed to offer students an optional opportunity to practice their creative skills.
We were delighted to spend a few minutes with Mrs. Gibson, our graphics design teacher, who was keen to talk about the project, and highlight some of the inspiring work that our students sent.
What Inspired the idea for a weekly art Challenge?
“The art challenge was originally designed to offer students an extra level of challenge and engagement whilst they were working online. Students wanted the opportunity to practice their skills without having their work assessed. They wanted the freedom to explore and experiment and come up with their own ideas”.
In what ways does the Art Challenge challenge our students?
“It's a free and open brief. A new theme is created every week. They get shown artists that have used that theme. After that it’s down to them. It’s not being graded. It's a way for them to explore different materials, without judgment. It's not a competition, there are no winners or losers. But every student that takes part gets a positive email home, telling their parents that they have shown Dulwich values which, in this case, is creativity. It’s showing something that is extra and above what is required.”
The rules of the Art Challenge are simple. Participants must send a photo of their subject matter with their artwork. Participants are not allowed to copy primary sources from the internet. The standard of submissions was high, with participants clearly enjoying the freedom of the theme.
The image below shows the first Art Challenge, together with a selection of student outcomes:
Who can take part in the Art Challenge?
“Anyone. The nice idea about the Art Challenge is that it totally inclusive, it is open to all year groups and staff. Entrants can send in digitally or non-digitally, a drawing, painting, photography or sculpture. Its totally open to all creative responses. The first idea was to encourage students to keep practicing traditional skills, learned in the classroom, that they might have forgotten when they were online, but the challenge developed to include any form of materials. Its really about practicing and keeping that creative process going.”
How do you decide what the next challenge will be?
“The first one was beds because everyone was locked down and it seemed to be a relevant environment that everybody has easy access to and can engage with. It wasn't a subject matter that they'd have to leave their homes for, and also there's a lot of artists that have been inspired by beds. I showed them Van Gough’s bed and I showed them Tracy Emin’s bed, to supply a starting point. It was actually a really lovely response, because some contributors did remarkable tonal drawings, and some did paintings. One student even did a little installation of all things that she found in her bedroom. They can interpret the Art Challenge really freely.”
Can you share any plans for the art challenge going forward?
“I think the Art Challenge will evolve as it increases in popularity and more students accept a challenge because its nice to do something out of the classroom for your own pleasure. Its nice for students to showcase their work and get a positive email home for participation. "
Other themes have been close-up, working hands and colour.
