Marvellous Mechanicals
Approximately 180 school children from Primary and Secondary Schools in Holbeach, Horncastle, Branston, and Skegness got creative when art and technology collided in a two-day drawing extravaganza at the University of Lincoln, UK.
Pupils joined University staff and students for the Marvellous Mechanicals Big Draw event, held as part of a national festival encouraging people of all ages to come together and express their creativity through drawing.
Following this year’s ‘STEAM Powered’ theme, which brings together science, technology, engineering, art and maths, the University teamed up with partner, Siemens UK to offer up a unique drawing experience.
The children were given exclusive access to the company’s on-campus turbine training facility, where they were able to get their hands dirty and experiment with giant charcoal-based drawings.
They also visited the University’s ‘Maker Lab’ where they stretched their imaginations further by designing collaborative mixed media collages with string, wool and tape. In our new Life Studio they also got busy creating personalised robot heads.
Having tackled the more traditional art forms, the children were given the opportunity to try their hand at something completely different, experimenting with mono-printing and embracing digital technology with Google’s Tilt Brush, a 3D virtual reality painting programme.
For Richmond School in Skegness, just one of those involved in the event, the day was a resounding success. Year Four Class Teacher and Arts Coordinator, Rebecca Sylvester, said: “I’m passionate about drawing so I’ve loved being involved in the festival. For the children it was a great opportunity to practice the skills they’ve already learnt in the classroom, while learning to experiment with new mediums and materials.
“We’re always encouraging the children to give things a go and that’s what this day was all about. They got the chance to try something new and express their own creativity and really loved taking part in all the activities.”
Hosted by the University’s Lincoln School of Architecture & Design, the event was led by Brian Voce, Senior Lecturer in Graphic Design. He said: “This year’s STEAM Powered theme has more than one important message. Not only does it fuse creative innovation, enterprise, digital technologies and the arts, it also draws attention to the importance of art, giving it parity with other subjects which are all too often seen as more important. Almost everything we see, from the pen in your hand to the house you live in, has at some point been drawn by someone. It’s not about being the best artist, it’s about creativity, innovation and being able to express yourself, and that’s why the Big Draw and events like this are so important.”
Drawing and the visual arts are really valued in science as they help visualise the invisible, and theoretical ideas of scientists. Helping communicate science to the average citizen.
The Big Draw encourages and inspires children to become the artists and designers of the future.