Louvre honour for teacher Pina
Folksworth based artist Pina Santoro-Ellwood, who will be exhibiting four of her pieces at the Louvre, at work in her studio. Picture: Paul Franks/Peterborough ET
A PART-TIME art teacher said she felt “numb with excitement” after her work was chosen to be displayed at one of the world’s most famous galleries.
Four collage pieces produced by Pina Santoro-Ellwood will go on show at the Louvre in Paris in December.
Ms Santoro-Ellwood (40) who teaches life-drawing and sculpture at City College Peterborough, said she is immensely proud of the achievement.
She said: “When I first found out I felt numb with excitement. I wasn’t sure how to react but I thought ‘this is really big.’
“Knowing that my work will be displayed in a gallery where all the old masters of art have exhibited is hard to describe.
“It’s such an honour and I’m immensely proud. I’d like to think that I’m helping to put Peterborough on the art-world map.”
Ms Santoro-Ellwood’s work was nominated for the prestigious honour after she took part in an exhibition in London earlier this year.
She added: “The exhibition took place in July and one of the organisers suggested that I put my work forward to be displayed at the Louvre.
“They then sent a panel of judges to view the pieces and after that I didn’t hear anything for several weeks.
“To be honest I had practically given up on the idea when I got the call to say it had been confirmed.
“I was at work at the time and had difficulty containing the excitement.
“The reaction from pupils and staff at the college has been really supportive. They all want to come to Paris and see it.”
Ms Santoro-Ellwood, who was born in Peterborough but now lives in Folksworth where she has her own studio, will have four pieces on display from December 8 to 11 at the ‘SALON 2011 - De la SNBA’ exhibition.
The collage pieces, which were produced using paper and different sketches, depict a variety of life stories.
They have recently been shipped to Paris and will go on show with other artwork form across the globe.
Ms Santoro-Ellwood, who graduated from the Cambridge School of Art in 2005, added: “I’m proud of them. I like to experiment with my art and try new things.
“The four pieces have a beautiful essence about them and I really hope the Paris crowd like them.
“Art has been a way of life for me – it’s not just my job, but something I do.
“So to get recognition like this is very special for me.”
Pat Carrington, principal at City College Peterborough, said: “We are extremely proud of Pina’s achievements.
“It’s an amazing honour and demonstrates the artistic talent we have in the city.”
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Wednesday 22 February 2012
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