Bridget Kennedy – an artist based in Allenheads, has been working with the project this week and sent us these encouraging words:
I am a practising artist living in Allenheads and working at both Killhope Lead Mining Museum and the Fine Art department of the University of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. In April 2014 I negotiated with ACA (Allenheads Contemporary Arts) in order to use their gallery space (ACA Shop) in the Allenheads Heritage Centre building. Over a period of two months I re displayed an installation entitled “Knowledge in Darkness” in the space.
Yvonne Conchie contacted me in June and asked me if I’d be interested in being part of a series of visits to Allenheads that she was organising in relation to The Dukesfield Smelters and Carriers Project. I was very pleased to be part of this project, I found it very well organised and was impressed by the breadth and ambition of the experiences offered to the students. I talked to four groups of children from Allendale Primary School over two days.
Although I have a great deal of experience in talking to older (degree level) students about my work I have not worked with younger children in this way. Therefore these two days offered me a great opportunity to combine my experience of working with younger students at Killhope (as an information assistant / tour guide) with my experience as a university fine art tutor. I found the questions and insights from the children very inspiring. It was so refreshing to see the work through their eyes. The process of explaining my practice to them has helped me to clarify and consolidate several areas with in my creative practice.
