Thamesmead Art Exhibiton Review

Wednesday 13 October saw the Jumping Trees Art Exhibition take place at Trust Thamesmead's offices in Thamesmead Town Centre.

Showcasing the work by the Bexley London Education Authority's (LEA) gifted and talented students from several Bexley schools, including the Business Academy Bexley (BAB), attendees included participating art students and their family and friends, Cllr Sandra Bauer, Business Academy Bexley's Head of Art Elizabeth Stratton and Art teacher Marq Kearey, staff from Trust Thamesmead and guest judges; art critics/artists Bruce Stinson and Basia Deptuch from the Tate Modern museum.

The exhibition featured art created during workshops for Gifted and Talented pupils during the summer holiday, and also saw them attend the Tate Gallery which inspired the students work.

Two prizes were given; the first, a public vote was awarded to Gabriel Fagbenro for his Chinese inspired work. Marq Kearey said: “The students were influenced by their surroundings and the art movements of Pop Art and Arte Povera. Gabriel was personally inspired by his interest in Chinese calligraphy which was identified on a poster advertising a dentist's clinic in China Town.”

Jale Gozde's sensitive artwork won the Critics Prize chosen by the panel which included the guests Bruce and Basia from the Tate Modern museum.

Cllr Bauer said: “I thought the work was of a really high standard; the students were very proud of their work and rightly so. I had a good chat to their tutor, and it gave me a good insight into how their work was inspired.”

Marq Kearey said: “The event went really well and the students are genuinely proud. A huge thank you to everyone at Trust Thamesmead for supporting the evening.”

Trust Thamesmead's Community Development Officer for Central Thamesmead, Linda Delieu said: “The Trust works closely with a number of schools in Thamesmead; the BAB being one of them. The evening made us proud to be associated with them and the work they do and to give the gifted and young people the chance to showcase all their hard work.”