Karen focuses on art for the young
We may not have many galleries or a particularly large art scene, but children are being given the chance to get creative thanks to the work of an inspirational local artist. Hannah Gray reports.
We may not have many galleries or a particularly large art scene, but children are being given the chance to get creative thanks to the work of an inspirational local artist. Hannah Gray reports.IF you think that you don't like art, it might be time to think again.
Photographer Karen Harvey firmly believes that we appreciate art even when we don't realise that's what we're doing.
"Art is embedded in our daily lives, everything around us is designed and created. We thrive on visual stimulation, on music and drama - art is all around us," she said.
What's more, it doesn't even matter if what you're seeing is not to your liking.
"I think sometimes people don't realise what art is.
"They think that it is for the elite or that they don't understand it. If you have an opinion, even if it is just like or dislike, then you understand it. Art exists to get a response," she said.
As it's probably becoming clear, Karen, who has a BA Honours in photography from Berkshire School of Art, is hugely passionate about her chosen career path.
Such is her enthusiasm that she is determined to spread what she sees as the benefits of art to others.
With that in mind, in 2006 she founded an organisation called Atelier East to provide arts and culture in the Fenland area and around.
She now has five other artists on her books who go out to schools and organisations, working with a range of ages from pre-school children to adults.
As well as specific projects, they run after-school clubs, and the broad range of skills across the artists means they are able to offer music, dance and art.
Karen, who is also a director of Peterborough Sculpture Trust, and curates exhibitions at the Angles Theatre in Wisbech, said that artists like her are needed, not because there is too little art in schools, but to complement what is already being done.
"I think art is really important in schools but it's having a professional artist to develop it," she said. "Teachers have to do so many things so broadly that it's really good to have people coming in specifically to do art."
Karen also believes that art can support other subjects.
"Art encompasses so much of life that it can inform other taught subject areas such as maths and English," she said.
"It enables children to develop their interests in different areas, to do their own research and planning and development.
"In our after-school sessions we ask the children to tell us what materials they want to use. We try and help them to make informed decisions but we never tell them what to do. We support them and allow them to express their creativity.
"They get much more of a sense of pride and achievement this way, and they are all very capable.
"We just have to give them that chance to be free.
"Music sessions can help with co-ordination, counting, team work and so on without being boring."Our Creative Movement sessions in pre-schools allow the children to make up stories, do role play, listen to and respond to sounds and music, exercise through dance and movement and learn new things whilst having fun."
The other key benefit Karen believes art brings is a boost to children's self-esteem. "All of our sessions boost confidence," she said.
"Arts and culture is about everything that's around you and I think that a lot of confidence and ability comes from being creative and being able to think in different ways.
"I am very proud to say that we have had parents write to us and thank us for the difference we have made to their children.
"That's really amazing and feedback like that makes us want to do more."
Art has always been a way of exploring the key issues of the day, and there are few more pressing issues in today's society than the environment, so this is a theme that crops up quite often in the work that Karen does, for example in a sculpture project she ran for Peterborough Sculpture Trust to celebrate Nene Park Trust's 21st anniversary.
Karen worked together with hundreds of children and their families to create a sculpture called Celebration, which demonstrates the water meeting the land at Ferry Meadows. What makes this sculpture particularly unique is that it is covered solely in rubbish.
"The environmental message is an important message to share, and one that young people can take with them through life," Karen said.
"I really detest greed and unnecessary waste, and a lot of the children we work with feel like that too, so it's been a natural progression for us really.
"It's something I feel strongly about personally.
"I wouldn't force it on anyone, but if a child asks me a question or expresses their feelings about the environment then I will do my best to support them.
"Callum, who I work with at Thomas Clarkson Community College, is really interested in the environment and that informs his art work. He is a brilliant person with great compassion and he hopes to become an environmental artist when he grows up - let's hope he joins the Atelier East team!"
Growing up in the Fens, Karen is very aware how important it is to promote art in the countryside.
"It is very important to support the arts, especially in rural areas where there isn't much access to the arts and where there is a lack of public art and public art spaces. We really want to help change that," she said.
"Placing art in public spaces helps to create an identity for a place, it shows pride and care - kind of like placing a favourite ornament on your mantle piece.
"Art can help people to live fulfilled lives. I was really lucky that as a child growing up in Fenland I had a really creative mum who supported all my ideas about becoming an artist, and still does. She encouraged me to do the thing I love, and I want to be able to use that to help others get to the place they want to be."
For more information on Atelier East, visit www.atelier-east.co.uk.
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