Gray's Mobile Art School help school children learn about saving the whales
Tuesday 27 June 2023
The island of South Georgia in the sub-Antarctic used to be the epicentre of the global whaling industry in the early twentieth century and sadly from 1905 to 1965, whales were hunted to near extinction. Now the whales are slowly returning to the island鈥檚 waters and the South Georgia Heritage Trust project hopes to tell the remarkable story of their recovery to inspire people around the world.
The (SGHT), reached out to Gray鈥檚 Mobile Art School to deliver a school鈥檚 outreach programme to engage school children about the amazing story of the whales decline and recovery in the island鈥檚 waters.
As part of the project, the SGHT commissioned Scottish artist, Michael Visocchi RSA, to create a permanent artwork called in the heart of the abandoned Grytviken Whaling Station to commemorate the loss and recovery of whales. His work draws inspiration from several sources to tell the island鈥檚 powerful story of an ecosystem in recovery.
A specialist team from Gray鈥檚 Mobile Art School has been working with Michael to deliver the art workshops to school children across Scotland and hopes to encourage more understanding about whaling and the opportunities to protect animals near extinction.
Chief Executive from the South Georgia Heritage Trust, Alison Neil, said: 鈥淭he story of the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia is a modern-day example of a thriving haven for wildlife, thanks to a turnaround in human attitudes to the environment and especially the protection of whales. Through its work with artist Michael Visocchi and the SGHT, Gray鈥檚 Mobile Art school is helping to inspire students to believe that positive environmental change is something we can all bring about.鈥�
Michael Visocchi said: 鈥淪outh Georgia shows us the most powerful evidence there is that change is possible in other under pressure ecosystems. There is always opportunity for environmental turnaround, and it is great to be celebrating ecological recovery in South Georgia through the workshops led by Gray鈥檚 Mobile Art School. We are creating hope for everyone who cares about nature and supporting vital research to protect the future of wildlife in the Southern Ocean.鈥�
School children from Victoria Park Primary School in Dundee and Arbroath Academy are amongst some of those who have taken part in the workshops so far.
Rosie from Victoria Park Primary said: 鈥淚 loved learning about the whales and really enjoyed the workshops. It鈥檚 important the whales don鈥檛 become extinct and that they get help.鈥�
Violet from Victoria Park Primary said: 鈥淚 liked all the art and creating the whales. It鈥檚 so important as they鈥檙e really friendly animals and it鈥檚 nice for people to see them. I don鈥檛 want them to go extinct.鈥�
School teacher at Victoria Park Primary, Sarah Mitchell, said: 鈥淲e loved today鈥檚 workshop. After the team left, we were still buzzing with stories about how great the morning was, and I am in no doubt that the children will be telling their parents all about it when they get home! We really appreciated how approachable, friendly and knowledgeable the team from Gray鈥檚 Mobile Art School and the South Georgia project were, they made the morning so enjoyable.鈥�
Ray Downie from Gray鈥檚 Mobile Art School, said: 鈥淲e are delighted to be working with leading Scottish Sculpture artist, Michael Visocchi, and the South Georgia Heritage Trust as part of this innovative project.
鈥淕ray鈥檚 Mobile Art School is a fantastic way to reach out to a new audience and to share the story about this amazing conservation project. It also shows the value of Gray鈥檚 Mobile Art School which ensures we can share our school鈥檚 expertise and resources beyond our campus. Our aim is to provide students and teachers with the opportunity to learn, create and work together and by doing so, enrich the lives of communities across Scotland.鈥�
Gray鈥檚 Mobile Art School hope to host more workshops to highlight the South Georgia Heritage Trust project, 鈥楥ommensalis 鈥� the Spirit Tables of South Georgia鈥�, in the autumn term.
Image shows school children Violet and Rosie from Victoria Park Primary School, Ray Downie from Gray's School of Art's Mobile Art School and Scottish artist, Michael Visocchi. Other images show Gray's Mobile Art School visiting Victoria Primary School and Arbroath Academy.