#BeMoreBob 20.2.2023

 

We have been eeing the world through the eyes of the children here at Dounby Primary School which has led to the creation of a unique and insightful art sculpture which will go on show at the Scottish National Gallery in Edinburgh.

As part of the Creative Learning Network and the National Galleries of Scotland project Your Art World, pupils from across the UK have been challenged to make and share their art.

But we have gone one step further! Dounby Primary is one of only four schools to be tasked with creating a whole-school art installation!

The children chose the word ‘protect’ to work as their catalyst and as a result, their main piece of artwork “Trashy” was formed as a large 3D figure made of trash who both needs protecting and can protect. Trashy will be surrounded by a protective wall – made up from around 140 “protection” boxes, one made by every child in the school.

Within Trashy’s hands will be another special creation made by the children – a character known as Bob.

Their exciting journey from Orkney to Edinburgh will start tomorrow - 21st February – thanks to McAdie and Reeve and Pentland Ferries. But their arrival on the Scottish mainland will see Bob take a very different route to the National Gallery.

Our pupil leadership group have made sure every pupil (Nursery to P7) has contributed to the sculpture – in fact each child has filled their very own box of items to protect. Protect is the word the group chose to build their installation around as they want to protect Orkney and its wildlife, the world and everyone in it.

The pupils in our art group have created a video to show the staff in the gallery in Edinburgh how to put their creation together as we are unable to go ourselves unfortunately.

Our pupils have  really embraced the project and came up with the idea of a travelling companion in Bob who could go on his own peedie adventure. Bob will be getting up to all sorts as he navigates his way to the capital taking pictures of his exploits along the way before ending up back in the protective hands of Trashy.

Bob will be visiting some schools who are part of the Creative Learning network, enjoying some Scottish landmarks and possibly even stopping off at the Scottish Parliament. We hope his adventures will be captured on film which will feature in a book the school hope to create at the end of the project.

You can read more about the project here: (https://www.nationalgalleries.org/learn/your-art-world) and follow the adventures of Bob on Twitter via our school page or #bemorebob.

Our online gallery has a selection of photos from across the duration of this learner led project - who are now embarking on their next initiative, to help everyone #bemorebob and create their vison, values and aims for Dounby School )and beyond!).