Art is what it’s wall about for primary kids
Bushes children team up with artist for unique mosaic
A stunning new artwork that honours Paisley’s weaving heritage has been created at a primary school.
The children of Bushes Primary, in Glenburn, teamed up with artist Teena Gould to create a ceramic version of the famous Paisley Pattern motif.
And it is now in place on the wall outside the main entrance of the school.
Headteacher Moira Monaghan said the artwork was the result of funding received by the school as part of the Paisley 2021 UK City of Culture bid.
“The school put in a bid that was really driven through the Parent Council, which was nice, and the bid was to create something that would represent the 2021 bid,” she said.
“It’s a piece of artwork. I think the right word is an installation.
“So what happened was the children all looked at the beautiful big embroidery panels by Scottish embroiderers, and the artist who was commissioned talked to children about design.
“All of the children had visited Paisley Museum, so there has been a rounding of the circle, they’d looked at the Paisley Pattern, the history of it, its symbolism and its place in Paisley.
“Teena, the artist, then gave her input about art and design...and every child contributed to that.
“And then Teena took away their paperwork and slated that into one piece of paper.
“She translated their design into one piece.”
The children’s experience of art was enriched by the project.
“They’ve had a very expressive art experience,” Mrs Monaghan said.
“And the result is absolutely lovely.”
The artwork was installed by artist Teena with help from a tiler from builders Balfour Beatty, who supplied labour and material free of charge, much to Bushes Primary School’s delight.
Teena, a ceramic artist, said: “The children have actually done it.
“We had an initial design day, and the children were looking at Paisley Patterns and we got these huge fabulous drawings.
“From that I based a design and then we drew it out and made templates.
“This was all from raw clay, soft clay rolled out and cut, then brought into school, so every child in the school has hands-on experience of actually making these.”
Experienced in clay and mosaics, Teena, 69, described the Bushes Primary piece as a public art project.
“The children have been absolutely inventive and enthusiastic,” she said.
“The fact that every single child has had hands-on experience of this is amazing.
“It shows in the quality of the work.”
Margo Verlaque, 65, who has a grandson at Bushes Primary, has helped put the project together. “I think it’s lovely,” she said. “It’s absolutely super because it’s hard to imagine what something would be like with somebody just telling you about it.
“But, when you actually see it on the wall, I think it’s something that’s going to be there for years to come.”