Seventy-five art and design pupils from The Island Free School took part in the Creative Biosphere Project and worked with Teresa Grimaldi, a highly-acclaimed puppet-maker whose work crosses into animation and multi-layered installation. Dubbed the ‘Creative Biosphere’ project, and much like the Biosphere Reserve itself, it aims “to build a vibrant ecosystem, where different sectors are integrated, working together to build a healthy, vibrant, creative community.”
The Isle of Wight is one of only 7 designated UNESCO Biosphere Reserves in the whole of the British Isles. This designation from the United Nations since 2019 recognises the Island’s unique ecological species and habitats. The Island Free School was part of an ambitious year-long, Island-wide project which brought together five local artists with the Island’s secondary schools & colleges and partnered cultural institutions. Head of Art & Design at TIFS, Catriona Travers, said ‘ the pupils created fabulous work and had the most amazing time developing ideas for the project with both Teresa Grimaldi and The Ventnor Exchange, our Cultural Partner.’
The idea of ‘Biosphere Beasties’ developed by blurring the lines of mythical creatures and wildlife found on the Island. Pupils’ work documented these beasts evolving from cellular beings – evidenced through micro concertina books in matchboxes, cataloguing the evolution of their creature cells into life forms – imaginative collages and shadow drawings. These were exhibited at the Ventnor Exchange and eventually into physical puppets as part of a show at the Ventnor Fringe Festival. These ‘beasties’ also formed a pop-up trail across Ventnor Park during the Fringe, linking these fantastical beasts with the living natural habitats of the Biosphere along the public route. Towards the end of the project twenty of our pupils took part in a ‘Take Over’ of Ventnor Exchange and developed and led creative workshops for members of the public.
To find out more take a look at the Creative Biosphere Project web book here.
