A new display opened at the Pier Arts Centre on Saturday 9 February 2013 celebrating artwork by children in primary and junior secondary schools throughout Orkney, Kirkwall Grammar School and Stromness Academy.

Peedie Pier comprises drawings, paintings, prints and sculptural works that have been selected by the art teachers who visit the schools each week.

The exhibition will include work from primary and junior secondary schools and will be on show 9-23 February. The children range from primary 1 to secondary 4 and are from Papdale, Glaitness, St Andrews, Evie, Dounby, Stenness, Orphir, St Margaret’s Hope, Burray, Firth, North Walls, Sanday, Stronsay and Westray schools.

A second exhibition will feature work from Stromness Academy and Kirkwall Grammar School and will be on display from 2-16 March 2013.

One of the teachers involved in curating the exhibitions, Shona Firth, commented “The joy of making art is twofold. There is the personal satisfaction felt in creating something unique and on occasion the pleasure of sharing it with a willing and hopefully appreciative audience.

This peedie selection of artworks comes from the hands of some of Orkneys younger practitioners through the network of art teachers who bring their knowledge, skills and enthusiasm to our schools.”

The diversity of media and form in the exhibition gives the viewer an insight into the pupils’ creative imaginations while showing their increasing self-awareness and confidence.

The exhibition also highlights the important role played by the art teachers in nurturing the children’s skills and ideas. Under their leadership and guidance the pupils enthusiasm and personal choice emerges, whilst engaging with curriculum-based work.

Mrs Firth continued “For the teacher the joy of making art is more than twofold. There is also a huge amount of pleasure to be had in teaching it.”

Carol Dunbar, Education Officer at the Pier Arts Centre added “We are always pleased to showcase the young talented artists being nurtured in Orkney. Showing Peedie Pier alongside New Ground – Orkney’s Art Graduates gives the Centre the opportunity to display work by Orkney’s younger generations throughout all stages of education. I hope our visitors seeing these exhibitions will be as pleased as we are to see the level of creative skill coming out of Orkney’s schools.”

Peedie Pier and New Ground – Orkney’s Art Graduates 2011 & 2012 will be on display at the Pier Arts Centre until 16 March 2013.

The gallery is open Tuesday – Saturday 10.30am – 5.00pm. Admission is free.

The Pier Arts Centre
Victoria Street
Stromness
Orkney
www.pierartscentre.com

Source: The Pier Arts Centre