Photography

Unfortuanly I did not get a response from  River Studios, photography .

As I worked on a fashion shoot with Burbo K’ture, I got the chance to experience photography slightly and I really enjoy it and became more interested, therefore I wish to try and get some experience with a photographer soon. 

Baverstock Overall Feedback

Overall I feel I got the general feel of what it’s like to be a teacher, however as I was there on university work experience, the children in higher years didn’t want or rely on my help as much as they did their teacher or they was working more independently.

I found teaching the learn 2 learn lessons more fulfilling and exciting, as I really enjoyed the challenge of being a support to students with learning difficulties and even year 7 as a whole, as they needed the most teacher attention.

Observing teachers in action has played a big part in my experience and options too, and I have gathered the positives and negatives for teaching from this and talking to teachers themselves.

Unfortunately I was a witness to some students having bad behavior and language toward the staff, and can understand how it can cause stress and hurt to them.

I feel the staff at Baverstock and generally all teachers are excellent at what they do and I take my hat off to them, as they have to deal and be patient with difficult students, as well as teaching and getting children ready for the real world.

From the whole of this experience I have decided that being a teacher is something I am not comfortable doing. However, learning support and art therapy is something I wish to look more into as a future career path.

Teacher Training Day

Monday 15^th April was a teacher training day, I felt this would be good experience as not only I would see a usual teaching day but the back work behind it.

The day began by an all staff meeting and then a department meeting.

For the first half of the day, I and the 2 photography staff had to assess the AS projects and give feedback, in which they used a marking guide which was similar to our BA feedback forms. I felt very involved, as I was able to give my thoughts and guidance.

Then we had to create a lesson plan for ‘Stop Day’ which is a day that a GCSE year group does one of their options for a whole day. This stop day was for year 10s, in which they planned to do a planning workshop for their mock final piece, along with starter activities. We designed templates of what they need to include in their planning.

In the afternoon all the art staff came together and moderated all the year 10s identity projects so far, we had to discuss and agree if the grade the class teacher had given was appropriate, some of the works got brought up or down a grade.

A Level - Art and Photography

With both AS and A2 levels in art, they are working through their coursework or getting ready for their final exam.

As the A2 level where near for their final exam which took place after the easter holiday, they was very busy planning and filling up there sketch books with experiments, which meant I didn’t have to help them as much, so in this time I was working with the teacher get things ready for the next lessons.

The AS group needed a bit more support and inspiration, in the sense that they needed help on ensure there amount and quality of work is at an AS level and not GCSE.  At this stage, I felt the art students still think in a GCSE mind, in which at GCSE student are given a lot of information, where I had to encourage them to be a bit more independent on their research. I helped and gave them artists they could look at, and then they had to go out and find out about them and why they would link.

The A level photography students was very much in the prime of their work, and needed very little help. I had time with each student (5 for AS and 6 for A2) and discussed their ideas and what they have done so far and how they was going to develop it. In these discussions I gave feedback and tried to help and inspire the students in their progression.

Year 11

Year 11s are getting ready for their GCSE exam, so they were independently planning and experimenting for the final exam piece. I was able to talk to individual students about their interpretation to the project brief, which was ‘Caged’ and how they are developing there idea into a final piece.

They were all an Exam planning sheet and check list to fill in.

At this stage of school they are all independently learning, and I was just there for when they need some help and guidance on the planning for final piece. 

Year 10

Year 10 had was in the middle of a GCSE project about identity, as they were half way through they were independently working. So I took the chance to see what all the students have done so far. They was looking at typography and using it to create a self-portrait.

(This student was my brother so I was able to take pictures of him)

Year 9 - Art and Graphic

In the year 9 art lessons, in groups they were creating big murals of their favourite films, some of them being Twilight, Avengers and Shrek. These where planned to be displayed in the playground so they were created by waterproof paints.

I found myself not as needed with this year group as they understood what they was doing and got on with it. So therefore I got involved with some of the painting and helped students when needed e.g. help creating a skin colour with paint and correcting lips so they look realistic.

This was also the case when it came to year 9 graphics. They were creating a sporting brand, a logo and products. I spoke to the student about the project and their work and what they planned to do next.

As it was the last lesson of the day, some of the boys started messing around so I sat down with them and helped them calm down and do some work. 

Year 8

Within year 8 art lessons, they were looking at the Fish artwork of Vincent Scarpace. They had to draw a fish in the style of Scarpace, and use different techniques with paint to create patterns and texture. 

When the lesson begun I introduced the project and worked on a quick example in front of the group. Through the rest of the lesson I went from table to table giving support and talking to the student about their work.

Year 7 - Art and Learn 2 Learn

Within the year 7 art classes they was looking at the artist Shauno, and creating a self-portrait in the style of the artist.

Below are images of the project mood board and the Year 7s works in progress. 

Learn 2 learn is extra lessons set up to specially teach Maths and English to children that need extra support, due to learning difficulties and lack of concentration in actual class. Within this lesson tasks are taught slightly different than in a normal lesson, as they engage the children more and explain in simpler forms, the use of art is sometimes involved as visual learning seems to be more successful with the children.

Within my lesson of learn 2 learn, we was looking at converting bar chart information into a pie chart.

The lesson began by a simple starter task of answering questions about results of a bar chart, for example what breakfast was the most popular? (Look for the breakfast with the highest amount on the chart), this task was easy as the answers were all there on the bar chart, however some of the children needed guiding to the answers.

Then we moved onto the main task. They used a bar chart they made in the previous lesson, about separating a pack of Smarties by colour, and tried to transfer the information onto a pie chart. The formula  was discussed as a group a couple of times and then they had to work out their information. Even though the task was explained very clear and a hand out of the formula was given, and they all said they understood, a lot did not know how to go about it or they needed guiding.

With both art and learn 2 learn I work with a small group, which were the same children in both classes. I had to give them support, guidance and motivation to help them complete the work, but it is important to not become too involved as the students need to build on independence. However some of the group would keep asking for more and more help even though they understood, but they just didn’t want to try. 

Baverstock School and Sixth Form

6x 6 hour days (excluding lunch) -  8:30am-3:30pm

Monday 25th March                   (3 days before the easter holidays and 3 days after)

Tuesday 26th March

Wednesday 27th March

Monday 15th April

Wednesday 17th April

Friday 19th April

From  getting the opportunity of working in the art department at Baverstock school , I aim to get the general understanding  of what it is like being an art teachers and get a detailed knowledge of all that’s involved with being in that role, from actual teaching to teachers meetings, lesson planning and moderating etc. 

As a CRB check was not necessary if working under 10 hours, I didn't have to apply for one, but this meant I had to be with a member of staff at all times and escorted to and from each classroom.

To structure all my experience, I have categorized it by each year group. (I had the same groups for a couple of lessons, in which they was still completing the same projects)

Mac Overall Feedback

I found this experience very interesting and enjoyable, as I was able to not only just see what a day is like for a visual arts technician at mac but connect with the public and artists. i noticed that the technicians formed a positive relationships with some of the public as they offer good support though their creations and experience. i was able to see loads of different styles of work from all different types of people, and I was a pleases to get the chance to be a support.

Even though that element of the experience was really interesting, I found the general tasks of a technician  very repetitive and could become boring if done more than a couple of days, this is why the staff at the mac work shifts. After completing this work placement I was not as inspired as what I thought I would have been. But I am very pleased with the experience and what I have learnt, like how to complete the different tasks of a visual technician and how to use different equipment e.g. kiln, and knowing when it’s done correctly.

Day at Mac

I began work at 9am and was introduced to Graham Handley, whom I will be shadowing for the day. After I signed in and had a quick tour around all the studios, I had to check what classes was on for that day and had to set up some of the studios ready for the 10am workshops (pottery, textiles and jewellery), ensuring all the equipment needed was out and available for the visitors.

After all the classes were set up and the leader had all the equipment required, i went down to the kilns which had been firing pottery the night before and was ready to be emptied. This process took a couple an hours, as a lot of the pieces where very delicate and it is the technician’s reasonability to ensure the works are safe. The pieces needed to be transferred to the storing shelves within the pottery room, this was happening while a class was taking place. I was able to get the chance to talk to the leader and visitors about their connection with mac.

(When chatting to the leader of pottery, I found out she was a student at BIAD and completed the same foundation course as me) 

During this time, we received calls for errands from other workshops, fetching equipment e.g. clay, We had to change the acid wash within the jewellery workshop, for health and safety reasons I just has to observe the technicians do it.

By this time it was afternoon, and I had to set up the studios for the afternoon classes (textiles, jewellery and life drawing). 

The afternoon was very similar to the morning, however, as the kilns where emptied, the awaiting pottery to be fired needed to be structurally stacked into the kilns. Filling them was a lot more time consuming and difficult as you have to ensure  the pieces on the same level are all about the same size and there is space between all the pottery but trying to put as much in at the same time.

(we had to ensure the shelves where clean, any clay or glaze that had stuck had to be removed before use)

(This is a tool used to check if the kiln has finished its firing process, as each spike softens at different temperatures)

After all the workshops ended and was about 2 hours before i finished, i had to clean all the studios that had been used and get them ready for classes the following morning, to reduce the amount of work the next day. 

Mac

8 hour day - 9am-5pm

Wednesday 6th March

Mac first opened in 1962 and is located in cannon Hill Park. Mac is Birmingham's pioneering arts complex for everyone. It is a national leader in developing work with children, families and young people of all backgrounds.

Mac offers a busy programme of theatre, dance, independent cinema, exhibitions and special events, as well as a wealth of practical classes in all aspects of creativity, from playing musical instruments to ceramics and jewellery-making.

I will be working alongside the visual art technicians for one day. I aim to get the knowledge of what consists within an art technician’s role and how they are important to the daily run of the mac’s studios and the public and artists involved. It will be a great opportunity to support artists, and the current/upcoming exhibitions. 

Meeting with Baverstock

Within the meeting we discussed:

•       How many hours the work placement was for

•       Dates of the work placement

•       Health and safety

•       Rules and regulations  (signed forms)

•       What areas I wanted to work in

•       What I wanted to achieve from this experience

I was able to get 6 days (6 hour days), working mainly in the art and photography department, with a couple of lessons in graphics.  Starting on 25^th march for 3 day, and then 3 days starting on 15^th April (after the easter holiday).

Response from Baverstock School

Below is an email I received from Baverstock.

Dear Loren,

Thanks for your email and CV with accompanying letter.

I would like to invite you for a meeting on Tuesday 5th March at 11:15. Please meet me in reception and note the following:

Our full address is:

Baverstock School

501 Bells Lane

Druids Heath

Birmingham

B14 5TL

0121 430 7924

Bring any documentation you have including CRB check and safeguarding letter if you have one. On a personal note I would love to see your sketch book to see how you have developed your skills

Please reply to confirm and I am really looking forward to seeing you soon.

Kind Regards

Miss Mazzoni

Response from the Mac

Below is the email I received from the Mac, I was Unable to get a two/three day placement but they could offer me one day.

Hi Loren

I have spoken to our technical department and we could offer you a one day placement on either Wednesday 26th February or Wednesday 6th March.  Please let me know if this would be suitable and we can make the necessary arrangements.  I am now out of the office until Monday so will respond on my return.

Kind regards

Felicity McLeister

HR Administrator

mac

( I have chose to attend on Wednesday 6th March.) 

Burbo K'ture Overall Feedback

Even though I only had 2 days experience with Burbo K’ture, I felt I got a good insight to what is consisted of not just being a fashion designer or creator, but owning your own fashion business. E.g. up keep of the shop and displays, managing money and time, designing, making and selling, collaborations with photographer, models and other designers, promotions and good customer service.

I gathered a lot of information from just chatting to Burbo himself, like the positives and negatives for owning your own shop, the biggest negative is that there isn’t a consistent flow of money, as one month he may have hardy any orders or sells but the next could be completely different, this is why when being self-employed money management is very important. The positive is that he can create the shop to reflect his style and likes, which I think attracts a lot of people.

From working in both the shop and on the photo-shoot, I feel I enjoyed and was inspired by the photo-shoot and working with the photographer more, especially in the area of fashion. I would like to gather more experience in this area, as now I am more interested in photography as a career choice. 

Burbo K’ture Photo-shoot

Day Two at Burbo K’ture

5 hour day – 11am-4pm

Sunday 10^th February

The Photo shoot took place in a few areas around The Custard Factory, but then settled in one location.

I helped dress the models and position the clothing how the designer wanted them to be presented online.  I was able to see how the designer, photographer and models work together and what consisted in each role.

My Feedback

I didn’t really know what to expect of the fashion shoot, but it was very relaxed and casual which made me feel comfortable with the Designer, photographer and  models, as I was able to chat and ask questions along the way.  I was really interested in this area of the experience and felt very involved in helping position the models. 

Day One at Burbo K’ture

5 hour day – 12pm-5pm

Friday 8^th February

I was based in the Burbo K’ture shop in The Custard Factory, Helping Customers and the designer with the selling of garments.

I participated in the taking of commissions, by helping the designer bring the customers ideas to paper and presenting them with the possible fabrics to be used.  Regarding to the final designs and making of the garments I mainly observed the designer in action, but helped with smaller tasks e.g. stitching buttons.

Along with the daily run of the store, I and the designer chose the selection of garments that was to be sold on ASOS, ready for the upcoming fashion shoot on the Sunday.  

My Feedback

At first I was a bit quiet when it came to the designing of new garments and the choosing of garments for the fashion show, as I didn't want to get in the way of the designer and I felt my ideas may not have been what he wanted, however he made me feel really comfortable and encouraged me to voice my opinions as he found them inspiring. I was very happy that my ideas where appreciated and we could inspire each other.