Overview

The Accelerated Art Programme (AAP) runs as a series of Friday afternoon workshops that are designed to develop the technical skills and knowledge of those showing exceptional talent and/or commitment to the visual arts. The workshops are open to students across the grades in the college, whether or not they take art as a subject.

Projects Past & Present

PRESENT PROJECTS

Term 2, 2014

PINHOLE PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP

9th May, 16th May & 23rd of May, 14:20 - 17:45ish

We have planned an exciting pinhole photography workshop with Dominique Edwards and Katherine Spindler at the Cape Town School of Photography this term. Boys will learn how to construct pinhole cameras as well as how to shoot and process their own negatives and positives.

Boys will finish a bit later on these days as we will be travelling back to Bishops from Roeland Street in Town.

CREATIVE CAREERS AND PROCESSES CONFERENCE

25th April 2014, 8:30-14:15

The purpose of this conference was to provide our students with the opportunity to be addressed by a group of professionals working in various fields within the broad umbrella term of “the visual arts”. We invited presenters to speak about an aspect (or aspects) of their actual practice, and share some of the ideas that underpin that practice. Invited speakers included: Tom Eaton (author), Virginia MacKenny (painter & university lecturer), Luke Scott (architect), Marco Cianfanelli (professional artist), Luke Pedersen (industrial designer), Piet Viljoen (investor), Elaine Rumboll (poet, business strategist and accredited LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® Practitioner).

PAST PROJECTS

Term 1, 2014: Oil painting with a focus on working with limited palettes and diverse technical skills and strategies.

2013 Projects

Term 4: AAP boys created work in response to the theme "Time". The project was composed of several parts: conceptualising through making small sculptures within boxes, documenting the work, using this process of documentation to create/arrive at interesting images that informed a series of Drypoints.

Term 3: The boys were visited by South African artist and printmaker Lyndi Sales who spoke with them about her creative processes and career development. More information about Lyndi Sales is available on her website: lyndisales.com

Term 2: Boys were introduced to various approaches, strategies and processes associated with painting. They completed numerous short tasks that were designed to strengthen their skills as many of them anticipated their participation in a workshop with visiting painter Andrew James (UK) from 11–13 July.

Term 1: Boys helped to set up a temporary dark room & studio in the Simpson Centre where they were introduced to a short history of photography and photographic techniques (particularly cyanotype) by visiting artist Dominique Edwards. Together with her and Katherine Spindler, the boys produced cyanotypes on the theme: Self Portrait.

About Dominique Edwards

Dominique Edwards was born in Kimberley, South Africa, 1980 and raised in Barkly West. She holds an MFA from Michaelis School of Fine Art (2012), a PGCE from UCT (2003), and a BFA from Stellenbosch (2002). She has taught at various institutions and is interested in exploring time, place, and labor through drawing, installation, video, and photography.

2012 Projects

The art department was given a large roll of linoleum that inspired a large-scale relief printing project. Because the prints were too large for the etching press, boys used a cricket pitch flattener. Guest artists included Natasha Norman and Grace Cross from Open Drawer Projects.

Other projects included oil painting expeditions, collaborations with street artist Selah, workshops on mark-making, and portfolio preparation sessions for Matric students.