Constellations Exhibition at The Tate

This term, on a very cold and snowy January day, the art department braved the Pennines to take a group of sixth form students to The Tate Liverpool and give them the opportunity to see the fantastic Constellations exhibition.

Everyone was excited to enter the gallery perhaps, in part, due to the freezing icy winds blowing across the harbour. However, not before Mrs Crampton insisted on stopping for a few group photos, despite the watering eyes and numb toes. 

Each exhibit was selected by the curators, who were asked to pick their favourite piece from the Tate collection. This led to an eclectic but very exciting exhibition; links were then created between the artists' works, drawing upon similar themes and approaches. 

Students were able to see a remarkably diverse collection of art, which included work by artists such as Picasso, Braque, Mondrian and Lichtenstein. Though we are all able to access their work through the internet, there is no substitute for seeing pieces first-hand and closely examining the way in which paint has been applied to the surface of the canvas, or how the textures from fabric, glass or clay add another element to sculptures and pottery.

Students studying photography were also able to see works by artists Cindy Sherman and Gillian Wearing, whom they had studied within their coursework; it felt a bit like meeting your favourite celebrity in the flesh.

All students have been asked to pick their favourite art work and write about their choice. Mrs Maurice and Mrs Crampton are eagerly waiting to see which pieces are chosen and how students develop their own ideas as they reflect upon what they saw in the gallery.