Films by a talented teenager who has done work for the BBC’s flagship Blue Peter programme will be among artwork by talented students from a Dumbarton school which is brightening a shopping centre in the town.
Work by the pupils of Our Lady and St Patrick High School will this weekend go on show at a Christmas Craft Fair at the Artizan Shopping Centre’s Community Hub.
Among the varied range of work on display will be films, sculpture and photographs based on the surrealist Man Ray.
The Fair will be open from 10am to 4pm on Saturday, December 21, and the art, part of the students’ submissions for their Higher examinations, will be available to view.
It has been curated by school Art and Design teacher David Dunlop who said: “The sculpture, The Sapling, is by Nicole Robertson who has since gone on to university and demonstrates man’s relationship with nature while the films are the work of Sammy Mansfield.
“She is a very exciting young talent who has done work for the BBC’s Blue Peter and won a number of competitions. She has always wanted to be behind the camera rather than in front of it.
“But we’re just really excited that we have the chance to exhibit the students’ work to the public – we have small exhibition spaces in the school but for the pupils themselves to be involved in something that’s public and to know their work is being promoted in the community is outstanding.
“A lot of the kids have never even been to a gallery and to be able to visit one that’s displaying their own work is fantastic.
“Having the Community Hub as a real quality gallery space is going to get the pupils’ work out in front of lots of people and create a lot of interest.”
Firm-maker Sammy Mansfield, 16, of Castlehill, Dumbarton, has a number of films on display including one on the very topical subject of cyber bullying and one about Mr Punch, from Punch and Judy.
She said: “I entered a film competition three years ago and I won and it’s really just gone from there and through working with Mr Dunlop.
“I really enjoy it and I did a film for Blue Peter when the Olympic Torch Relay came to Dumbarton. It’s something I’d like to havee a career in.
“But the Hub here at the Artizan is a fantastic place to be able to display my work. It’s amazing that people are going to be able to come in here and see it.”
Jenna Milne, also 16, of Castlehill, has a number of photographs on show, inspired by the surrealist Man Ray, and she said: “I didn’t really think my pictures were that great but my teacher said I had a good eye.
“It doesn’t really feel real seeing my photographs on display but I am really pleased with the show.”
The Christmas Craft Fair, organised by local artist Ann Marshall, will also feature a Hip Hop Dance demonstration by Nadia Atmouni who has given dance classes in the town for several years.
There will also be a wide selection of craft stalls including wooden ornaments, home baking, paintings and photography, sock monkeys, painted Christmas slates, cards, gifts, jewellery and cakes as well as free face-painting.
The Hub was launched recently by the Artizan Shopping Centre to provide a place where the rich history and heritage of the area can be celebrated and to act as a venue which local organisations, schools and individuals can make use of.
It has been designed by the 6274 agency and is open every Thursday from 10 to 4pm but is available throughout the week and the organisers are open to suggestions for its use – the Craft Fair was the idea of local artist Anne Marshall who has put together a group of craftspeople for the weekend.
Before the Fair, on Thursday, December 19, the Dumbarton Area Council on Alcohol (DACA) will be hosting a Mocktails and Mince Pies morning in the Artizan Gallery.
It’s an opportunity to come along and enjoy a free festive nibble and a refreshing alcohol-free drink with a difference.
Amanda Eleftheriades, Links to Learning Co-ordinator for the Dumbarton Area Council on Alcohol, said: “The mocktails are a delicious alcohol-free alternative that can be enjoyed by all the family over the festive period if the pressure is on to keep on partying.
“We’ll be giving away the easy-to-make mocktail recipes along with unit measuring glasses and staff will be on hand to offer some drinking tips to help keep you and your family safe over the festive season.”
DACA provides free, confidential 1-1 counselling to anyone in West Dunbartonshire affected by their own or someone else’s alcohol misuse.
For more alcohol information and advice contact DACA on 01389 731456 or 0141 9520881. Copies of the mocktail recipes will also be available to download from the news page on our website at www.daca.org.uk.
Louise Scott, Marketing Executive for the Artizan Centre, said: “It would be good to make events like the Craft Fair regular items on the calendar and we are working on a programme for the Hub and the Centre for the coming months.
“We are very encouraged by the enthusiasm being shown by local people for the venture and the way they have embraced it.
“The Hub is open every Thursday at present but local organisations can take charge of it for the day for events and just hand the keys back at closing time.”
For more information about the Artizan Shopping Centre and the Community Hub and how to make use of it go to www.artizancentre.co.uk or Facebook page www.facebook.com/artizangallerydumbarton
