Access Mackenzie
Richmond School Workshop
Last month we welcomed a group of Richmond School pupils into the gallery for a workshop aimed at building confidence through exploring Mackenzie Thorpe’s work. Pupils were invited to the gallery's upstairs collection and given the opportunity to engage with a variety of works and themes. This included lively group work, looking at Mackenzie’s latest cowboy collection, sculptures and pastel pieces. Mackenzie’s unique animation, created with Teesside University The Long Walk Home, was used as the basis for pupils to think of their own independent projects and to have confidence in their creativity.
Norton Primary School meets Bee Boy
Mackenzie Thorpe’s work has a long standing connection with childhood. His genre of Big Heads is dedicated to a youthful mind full of possibility and imagination. Bee Boy, a resin sculpture of one such Big Head, travelled to Norton Primary School. The whole school had the opportunity to meet Bee Boy, to learn about Mackenzie as an artist and to explore his unique and meaningful work.Deputy Head, Glenda Steel, was keen to involve Mackenzie’s work as part of the school’s specially themed “Happy Week”. Bee Boy was specifically chosen as the animated sculpture endorses much of the ethos of the school’s “Happy Week”, aimed at encouraging children’s aspirations and potential. The North East artists’ own personal story also has the power to inspire young minds and parallels the aspirational message of the week.
Pupils followed up the visit with special activities and Bee Boy based projects.
If you have any questions please contact us on +44 (0)1748 826 605 or email us at arthausgallery@aol.com or Wendy at wendy@mackenziethorpe.net
