Big wood sculpture workshop
About the sculpture workshop
Every Autumn most of the courses within the Therapeutic Arts subject area descend on a big wood on the outskirts of Derby. The workshop's led by Therapeutic Arts senior lecturers, with specialist guidance from Environmental Sculptor Ian Randall
Before the event, Ian builds a sculpture to prepare for the arrival of our students. Ian then takes the students on the journey that he made through the wood and talks about:
- how he decided on the place to build his sculpture
- the feelings he had when walking through the wood
- what led him to make his decisions on not just place, but what to build and how to carry it through.
This is a valuable experience for our students as they're introduced to both the materials and techniques available in such a unique setting.
There are no materials taken to the woods; the sculptures are made entirely from what the wood holds, making no two years alike. At the end of the project the sculptures are left to be reclaimed by the environment.
The workshop is part of the following courses:
- BA (Hons) Creative Expressive Therapies programme. Specifically, these modules:
Working Creatively with People (first stage) - you'll form small groups with people from all disciplines (art, dance-movement, drama and music) and respond with the natural materials provided by the woodland.
Working Creatively with Disadvantage (second stage) - you'll be in groups again but will work with special needs clients from two local schools.
