ART DEPARTMENT Art for Art’s Sake
Collaboration is the name of the game in the Christ’s College Art Department.
Entering the light, airy, third-floor room of the Art Department, where Year 13 students are working, is to walk into an atmosphere of calm, thoughtful endeavour. Each boy is working quietly on his own portfolio, which will be presented for assessment at the end of the year. Head of Department Mr Darryn George says the boys have the opportunity to test things out in the classroom. He believes his role is providing the best learning environment by guiding the boys in the right direction in any project, but ultimately letting them be responsible from conception to completion. “As teachers, we work alongside the boys. We are researchers and make our own work and we expect the boys to be researchers and make their own work as well. We give guidance in terms of which areas to start researching in – but the boys have to get going and do the research themselves. “We work collaboratively. Each week, the boys produce work for
a group critique. They put their work in front of the group and their peers fire out their ideas, share their thoughts, and talk about different styles. I wrap up the discussion, make some suggestions, the boys write it down and there you have the framework for the next few days’ work. “We definitely encourage independent thinking, so during the week, boys have to think for themselves and critique their own work. We don’t spoon-feed them and this is why our students do so well at fine-art schools, as they can think and work independently. The boys do the research, then use their gut feeling. “My role is to have an image library in my head to suggest names and styles for boys to consider. These references become the starting point for further research. Every portfolio is different and we need to guide the boys to the sensitive shifts they can make.”
Mr George says art is all about having a passion.
“Mr George always gives a wee pep talk and says, ‘Don’t go for little day trips to Dunsandel or Amberley, get on the ferry to Wellington and continue
up to Kaitaia.’ ” George McKnight - Year 13
College Issue 29 2015
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