Aberdeen children create installation for SPECTRA

17 January 2018

Aberdeen children will have the opportunity to see their work displayed at this year’s award-winning SPECTRA Festival of Light, following a series of workshops at local primary schools.

SPECTRA, now in its fifth year, showcases stunning light and sound installations created by world class artists at key sites across Aberdeen city centre, will return from 8-11 February 2018. The popular festival is delivered for Aberdeen City Council by arts production company Curated Place.

The children’s work will form part of ‘Parabolas’, an installation developed by Artist Educators Hannah Ayre and Amanda Yates, who have been specially commissioned for SPECTRA 2018.

Hannah and Amanda will work with approximately 300 children from 10 local primary schools to create woven designs inspired by parabola shapes. These will create an impressive installation when lit with UV light.

Aberdeen City Council Culture spokesperson Councillor Marie Boulton said: “This is a wonderful opportunity for children to get involved with such an engaging project, it will be so exciting for them to see their work displayed to thousands of people at SPECTRA.

“With this being Creative Scotland and Event Scotland’s Year of Young People, we are especially delighted that SPECTRA can offer the opportunity for young people to develop skills and help the city become a cultural focal point.

“Both interactive and inspiring, the festival has led the way in showcasing the best of what Aberdeen has to offer as a cultural destination and we hope that events like this will help to protect and develop Aberdeen’s artistic legacy.”

Hannah Ayre, Public Engagement Manager for Curated Place, said: “The Parabola project is a great opportunity for young people from across the city to create a piece of art work for the festival. Students will have their work exhibited alongside work by professional artists from across the globe.

“I hope that these young artists will take great pride in having their work seen by huge audiences from Aberdeen and by visitors to the city. At the end of the festival students’ work will be returned to their school where it may be exhibited again or taken home as a reminder of their experience.”

The Parabola project provides great opportunities for learning including building an understanding of the impact of mathematics in the design and implementation of an art work, developing an understanding of maths (the parabola) and its impact on art and architecture, and also creating an understanding of the art of pattern and repetition used to create the parabola sculptures and other geometric designs.

Participating schools include: Sunnybank, Milltimber School, Glashieburn Primary School, Gilcomstoun School, Kingsford School, Brimmond School, Craigielee Children’s Centre, Charleston School, Vision Support Services at Brimmond School, and English as an Additional Language at Sunnybank School.

To see the children creating their Parabola shapes, click here: https://youtu.be/I_VoUcWNMTY