Solid

Friday 28 November – Tues 23 December 2003

Solid

West London's largest public art space, PM Gallery, run by Arts and Cultural Services at the London Borough of Ealing, continues its innovative education programme with the remarkable exhibition Solid, showing artworks created during an artist-in-residency programme at five Ealing schools, carried out over the autumn term, which took 3D as its central theme.

Sponsored by the Aim Higher strand of the Excellence in Cities Programme and supported by London Institute's Young@Art initiative, which assisted with the selection of artists and provided training days at the colleges, the project has further developed the Gallery's Annual Schools' Exhibition, through a proactive approach to the creation of the work to be exhibited.

This has enhanced the visual arts curriculum for the schools involved, providing additional resources and the services of a professional artist, in order to enable an exploration of disciplines not ordinarily covered.

Participating artists and schools

Colin Gillespie working with Year 10 students at Belvue Special School on wood block/board constructions, using engraving, burning, edging and lamination.
Nik Ramage working with Year 12 and 13 students at Brentside High School on The Secret Lives of Everday Objects, building kinetic/motorised metal objects working with found materials.
Nicola Lane working with Year 10 students at Elthorne Park High School making life-size textile human forms, based on an idea of the 'absent and negative body'
Nisha Chadha working with Year 11 students at Featherstone High School developing sculptural/relief work with felt
Carole Hensher working with Year 12 and 13 students at Ellen Wilkinson School for Girls using various techniques of printmaking to explore ideas around women's clothing and femininity, presentation of persona, social class, cultural backgrounds and clothing as relics of the past

PM Gallery has historically challenged the accepted notion that a professional contemporary gallery should not choose to exhibit the work of students. Solid will present the works produced by the students during this intensive learning period together with one artwork by each of the artists-in-residence. The exhibition will also include documented research and development work.

By linking the Achievement division with Arts and Cultural Services, Ealing's education department is developing creative opportunities for young people to broaden their horizons and co-exhibit with professional artists in the highest quality setting.

For further information or images contact Helen Walker or Reema Rathod. Tel: (020) 8567 1227 or email: hwalker@ealing.gov.uk or rrathod@ealing.gov.uk