Between July and October 2012, Yorkshire Artspace has been with 2 secondary schools from the Parson Cross and Manor neighbourhoods in Sheffield, inspired by the Paul Morrison exhibition 'Auctorum' at Millennium Gallery.  

"Paul Morrison lives and works in Sheffield. He is best known for his large monochromatic botanical landscapes that are at once both familiar and foreign: Familiar because his subjects—trees, flora, and their natural surroundings—are immediately recognizable, and foreign because he can cause a mere dandelion or weed to become threatening due to its immense size and lack of colour."

Year 10 pupils from Chaucer School and Park Academy have been involved in creative workshops lead by Yorkshire Artspace artists Charlie Hill and Emilie Taylor .  With Charlie, both schools visited LEAF copmmunity allotments to take a closer look at plants and flowers and create a series of drawing that were then laser-etched into mirror polished stainless steel.  Emilie accompanied the pupils to Manor Oaks Studios for visits to artists' studios and the nearby Tudor Turret House.  The decorative plaster ceiling in the banqueting room of the Turret House provided the pupils with more depictions of plants and flowers to inspire the making of clay tiles.  These are now fired in the kiln at Emilie's studio at Pesistence Works. 

The finished artworks will go on display in The Avenue at Museums Sheffield: Millennium Gallery from 8th October for a period of 2 weeks.

Paul Morrison helped us to raise the funds for this project through designing a limited edition artwork for sale. We still have 3 artworks available for sale with all proceeds used to fund future education projects. More information available from Mir Jansen, 0114 2130111.

We also like to thank: Ashley Carson and Sarah McNeil at The Sheffield Assay Office who provided the laser etching service; Aalco (Steel) Nottingham who provided the mirron polished stainless steel; Museums Sheffield who provided access to the activity room and supported the display in the Avenue of Millennium Gallery; Peter Machan of Green Estate & Manor Lodge for the excellent guided tour;,  Diane Cocker at LEAF community allotments for her introduction to her site; Park Academy in The Manor and Chaucer School in Parson Cross;  all the artists who helped and supported the project: Paul Morrison, Charlie Hill, Emilie Taylor, Susan Disley, Jonny Garrill, Finnbar Lucas and Anne Laycock; and of course, the wonderful pupils who took part.

(pictured, pupils fromPark Academy at LEAF Community Allotments)