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Catherine McKenna : It’s a small world’
28th August to 20th September 2013
Open eve 5th September 7-9pm
As an art teacher I am continually inspired by my students. ‘It’s a Small World’ is a collection of my most recent work which has been directly influenced by a Year 8 scheme of learning. The natural world plays an important part in my work, be it a flower head, plant form or shell, I have woven such organic material into my ‘small world’ compositions.
I take great pleasure in observing and recording the world around me. Working directly from primary source enables me to capture the subtleties within my subject’s form. From a marbling exercise in class, I created a number of abstract planetary spheres after which I incorporated a selection of organic subject matter from direct observation into these small worlds. Through my small worlds I wish to capture and cherish the beauty and fragility of our natural world. I invite the viewer to enjoy some of the wonderful gifts of nature our planet earth has offered up for us to respect and cherish.
I was born and brought up in Northern Ireland. I did my foundation course at the Ulster Polytechnic and then went on to study at Camberwell College of Art. I now live in South East London and have been Head of Art at Hayes School since 2004. This autumn I intend to continue my artistic practice through a part-time MA in Artist Teachers and Contemporary Practices at Goldsmiths, University of London. This will draw on my artistic and pedagogical practices and be underpinned with theories of art, learning and critical and dialogical art philosophies.