Life Journey Inspires Sculpture
Tuesday, 2nd December 2003.
An impressive 10ft high concrete sculpture has been officially unveiled at Samuel Ward Upper School and Technology College in Haverhill.
Local MP Richard Spring performed the ceremony to reveal the artwork made by Year 10 pupils, Hannah New and Jake Hearns, and the head of art, Neil Williams.
The students gave up most of their summer holiday to work on the piece.
The sculpture, named Chochmah, a Hebrew word meaning the beginning of a wise idea, was created by first making clay models from which sections were cast in concrete and then "dressed" by carving into the surface.
The work features the heads and torsos of four figures, arranged like points on a compass, to symbolise a journey through life and the possibilities it offers.
"By comparison, most of the art created in class is small," said Mr Williams.
"This was an exciting opportunity for students to work on something larger than lifesize, using new techniques like casting and carving."
The piece took about 30 wheelbarrows of concrete to make and is set on a raised plinth.
It has been sited in a paved courtyard which has been created as part of an environmental project to improve the school grounds.
A time capsule with details of the artists involved, plus information about life in 2003 - such as the price of fish and chips - was placed in the middle of the sections.
Mr Spring said it was an honour to unveil the sculpture. "It is wonderful to know that students are so creative and enjoying producing art of all kinds. I very much enjoy looking at sculptures so this was a particularly interesting visit for me."
Local MP Richard Spring performed the ceremony to reveal the artwork made by Year 10 pupils, Hannah New and Jake Hearns, and the head of art, Neil Williams.
The students gave up most of their summer holiday to work on the piece.
The sculpture, named Chochmah, a Hebrew word meaning the beginning of a wise idea, was created by first making clay models from which sections were cast in concrete and then "dressed" by carving into the surface.
The work features the heads and torsos of four figures, arranged like points on a compass, to symbolise a journey through life and the possibilities it offers.
"By comparison, most of the art created in class is small," said Mr Williams.
"This was an exciting opportunity for students to work on something larger than lifesize, using new techniques like casting and carving."
The piece took about 30 wheelbarrows of concrete to make and is set on a raised plinth.
It has been sited in a paved courtyard which has been created as part of an environmental project to improve the school grounds.
A time capsule with details of the artists involved, plus information about life in 2003 - such as the price of fish and chips - was placed in the middle of the sections.
Mr Spring said it was an honour to unveil the sculpture. "It is wonderful to know that students are so creative and enjoying producing art of all kinds. I very much enjoy looking at sculptures so this was a particularly interesting visit for me."
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