St Mary’s School, Cambridge welcomes St Alban’s School for Native American art workshop

St Mary’s School’s art department were delighted to welcome thirty-one Year 4 pupils from St Alban’s Catholic Primary School on 6 June 2019 to join them in an all-day creative craft workshop. The excited group developed an understanding and appreciation of crafts in Native American art. They analysed, refined and evaluated their outcomes making links and connections between their own production of a ‘gods-eye’ dream catcher which originates in Ojibwe culture as the "spider web charm".   

All the pupils thoroughly enjoyed the activities and the opportunity to have an art lesson in a working art studio. One said of the day:

“I thought that Studio 47 was a very fun environment. I liked the weaving of the dreamcatcher; adding amazing colours to it and the details like feathers and beads.” 

The pupils were able to apply knowledge learned about craft-based techniques in the development of their own dreamcatchers using a wonderful array of colours, wools and embellishments. We were able to discuss the outcomes and the origins of the dream catcher and its purpose in groups. The pupil comments, in both written and verbal form, showed that the workshop was creative, interesting and exciting.  

The students were able to have a tour of the department and look at the A Level and GCSE summer art exhibition which they found really inspiring, as one pupil noted: “I thought it was amazing because there is so much art to see on the walls and it is fun to look at.” 

It also appeared that lunchtime was a big hit with many students commenting on the delicious food and our beautiful Elms gardens area.  

Thank you so much to St Alban’s Catholic Primary School for enabling us to work with the wonderful Year 4 pupils and staff. It was a great opportunity for us to share our passion for art with them all. 

Visit the gallery of images from the day here.