Tracing Memories
Big Draw 2004 was inspired by 'A Trace of Memory', in particular, the
beautiful tracings by Henny Burnett. Members of the public and young people
from our schools joined the artist, Gaye Chorlton, tracing their own
memories and making connections to memories that evoke Wigan's history.
Cogs, wheels and cotton reels were traced, along with personal objects, and
a group of young people traced themselves into the composition, combining
the past with the present in delicately drawn lines that suggested the
contours of a map.

 

Wigan’s Big Draw 2003 - 'School Identity and Location'

Big Draw 2003 was inspired by the work of Paul Clifford and Charlie Holt, whose work was on show in Encounters. Their work presented a series of 'visual encounters' that the two artists had developed over an extended period of time. The collages had been sent through the post several times, exposed to the elements, with each journey accumulating new stamps and marks which became symbolic of the process of adventuring into the unknown, and of the chance encounters that can happen. As the artist received the collage, they would add something to the image, sharing a moment or experience and then send it back. Each collage became a richly layered image, with many references and symbols, communicating ideas about location and identity.
Artists and gallery staff worked out in schools exploring the theme 'School: Location and Identity'. Pupils in over 30 schools worked collaboratively to create collages about their sense of place and themselves, and then sent the collages through the post to the gallery where they were displayed in the coffee lounge gallery. Nearly 1000 collages were hung together, creating an installation of visual references celebrating a wider community of schools and pupils.

---

Wigan’s Big Draw 2002

Drumcroon’s artists were out in force in the two weeks leading up to the Saturday event with artists and gallery staff running drawing workshops in fifty schools throughout Wigan. The photograph shows Brian Wilson, Chairperson for the Lifelong Learning Panel Wigan Council banging the Drumcroon drum with some of the participants. Click here for more information.

---

Drawing Power, the Campaign for Drawing - is now in its fourth year. It aims to show how drawing can be valued more highly on both education and everyday life. The Campaign, which includes the annual Big Draw, has published a series of books, of interest to teachers and educators working in a variety of educational settings.
The first book in the series, Power Drawing, stresses the importance of using drawing as a medium for learning. It explores the functions of drawing and the uses of different kinds of drawing for educational purposes.

The second book, Start Drawing!, shows the importance of drawing in the intellectual and emotional development of young children. It is an introduction to how drawing in the early years with children aged 3-6 can support learning across the curriculum.
Drawing Experience is the third book in the series, and explores ways in which drawing can be used in galleries and museums. Work by the children of St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School Wigan is documented in this publication.

The Drawing Research Network is a loose network of individuals and institutions who are involved in some way with drawing research, for example via professional practice, education or the promotion of drawing.

Drawing Together - was created by Access Art and the Campaign for Drawing as part of the Big Draw 2002.

Tracey Contemporary Drawing Issues -this website aims to maintain a momentum of debate by providing a focus and forum for all aspects of drawing research.