As part of the ongoing work of the Torbay Arts in Schools Network, we are featuring a series of ‘Spotlight Interviews’ with key TASN partners. Next up: Simon Ripley of Double Elephant Print Workshop.
Question: Tell me a little bit about your role and what you do.
The Double Elephant Print workshop was established 27 years ago and is based in Exeter’s Phoenix Arts Centre. We have two studios there: one for screenprinting and another for all other types of fine art print: etching, linocut, monoprint etc. We offer courses in printmaking and we have a membership who use our workshops for their own artistic projects.
It’s my job to arrange and in many cases carry out the outreach work of Double Elephant – which is a mobile workshop going into schools, healthcare settings and community venues but also funded projects which we or partners initiate such as heritage or environmental actions.
Printmaking is a great way to get your message across, to support self esteem and confidence and to have fun making things you’d never thought possible. It’s a very accessible art form available to anyone.
We bring a portable printing press wherever we go throughout the South West and I often find myself with inks and rollers printing with a class of thirty Year 4 children mad keen to print leaves or cardboard shapes making pictures of themselves or animals or underwater worlds.
Question: What’s something really exciting/successful that’s happened in the last 6 months?
Throughout December we ran “24 days of Print” an advent of free festive printmaking across Exeter – we delivered workshops in community centres, shops, Exeter cathedral, a sports centre and our studio. Although it was exhausting we were so happy to be able to reach such a large and new audience.
We produced kits to take away and we showed 24 different methods of making prints from home without specialist equipment which we released daily as short films on instagram – you can still see them on our website – https://www.doubleelephant.org.uk/24daysofprint.
Question: Why are schools relationships important to you? How do the schools get involved?
We would not have lasted 27 years without our aim of educating a new generation of printmakers… and we have had students use our facilities up to degree level.
Print was the internet of its day and is still of course a key tool of communication. Printmaking is on the national curriculum so it’s vital that students understand its power.
Because it is so accessible it is a great way to encourage those who might say “I’m no good at art” to feel confident to express themselves – you don’t need any pre-existing art skills to make prints and experience the thrill of winding the press and turning back the paper to see what you have created.
We work directly with teachers to design a printmaking visit to a school – whether it’s to make prints on a theme such as The Great Fire of London or protest slogans for environmentalism. Get in touch through our website: https://www.doubleelephant.org.uk/.
Question: Can you describe some ways that families with children & young people engage with your work?
Above all we aim to provide a safe, fun and interesting learning experience for all people we work with. Everything we do is very hands-on and everyone leaves us with an armful of finished prints. Print processes are very diverse so there is a method of making prints for everyone.
Print can also be turned to the service of other art forms, to banner or poster or bunting making and it can be used to explore subjects like identity or facing change.
Last year we ran a series of workshops with In Focus Charity – with children and young adults facing complex needs and visual impairment. Their Head of Learning said : ” It has been a fantastic experience for our students and the quality of what you have supported them to produce is very high. It has exceeded initial expectations. Many thanks for your adaptable and inclusive approach.”
Question: Going forward, what are your hopes and dreams in terms of engagement?
This August we are running free workshops and subsidised courses as part of our Botanical Summer School. They’ll be happening across Exeter so watch out for news coming soon.
We are in the process of building a two year Heritage project to explore Exeter’s history of paper making and that will engage with schools across the City.
Looking ahead we are aiming to broaden our on-line offer to make the print community across the South West more cohesive – this will mean access to online films and tutorials, sharing information and opportunities and hopefully the possibility of working with schools virtually.
Stay up to date with Double Elephant and their amazing work here:
https://www.doubleelephant.org.uk/
Double Elephant Print Workshop is a key partner of TASN.
Torbay Arts in Schools Network (TASN) is a collaborative and grassroots effort, comprised of 45 organisations, freelancers, and schools in the Torbay area.
The network serves as Torbay’s Cultural Education Partnership, providing shared regional advocacy, arts menus, creative resources, and arts outreach in partnership with area schools. What is a Local Cultural Education Partnership? Find out more here.
The group is action-driven, and meets fortnightly over Zoom to do shared activity planning. The network is currently chaired and coordinated by Erin Walcon, Co-Director, Doorstep Arts.
The network is open-door and new artists, arts orgs or school staff are always welcome to join –just email erin@doorsteparts.co.uk to sign up to the mailing list.
