The study and appreciation of Art at Saint Christina’s School follows the thoughts of Pablo Picasso who proclaimed: ‘Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life’. Art has a high profile within the school environment at Saint Christina’s as every wall is proudly emblazoned with the pupils’ achievements. At Saint Christina’s School, children are taught that Art is therapeutic, that their artistic skills are continually developing and that progress is achieved through regular, dedicated practice.
Art at Saint Christina’s School strengthens all areas of children’s overall education through advancing children’s fine motor skills, imagination, vocabulary, aesthetic palette and most crucially, self-esteem. Displays of artwork encourage comment and discussion, respect and aspiration. Art offers a window for children to learn about the visual world and how other artists and cultures have interpreted it.
At Saint Christina’s School, children are encouraged to develop their imagination, creativity and the ability to use Art as a form of expression. They become adept at using a variety of different media to create their own individual responses to artwork through stimuli including literature, poetry and objects of nature.
Art is often linked to the broader curriculum at Saint Christina’s School so that children can apply meaning to their work and experience Art in context with other areas of study. Trips to the Tate Gallery by Nursery and Reception Classes, observational life drawings that take place at Primrose Hill and in-depth study of millinery skills such as the design and composition of Victorian hats give rise to the diverse breadth of creativity and art-making by children at Saint Christina’s.
‘Art above all, must enjoy great breadth of scope and great freedom, if it really wants to explore and create’, so says César Manrique. At Saint Christina’s School, our artists aim to put his words into action.
Mrs. Jean Donington
Subject Leader for Art