Barcelona is a city immersed with beautiful architecture, galleries, working artists and culture that made an unforgettable adventure for our Graphics, Photography and Art History pupils. The design trip to this buzzing city took place in the last week of the summer holidays, taking 30 pupils from U5, L6 and U6 on a 5-day tour of some of the most influential art spots in Europe.
The trip included a visit to Gaudis crowning achievement, The Sagrada Familia, where the pupils were able to ascend one of the eleven towers, gain astonishing views of the city and visit Gaudis workshop and the cyrpt where he was buried. Gaudis tremendous work is scattered all over the city, though one of the marvels for staff and pupils was The Parc Guell. The modernist park is largely made up of re-claimed china and porcelain, and a wander around the gardens gave us a great opportunity to photograph, draw and study this masterpiece.
One of the most memorable elements to our time in Barcelona was the individual atmosphere that the city provides; spending time on the beach, watching flamenco and wandering around the old parts of the city. The boqueria market is situated half way down Las Ramblas, it offers a bustling, noisy, colourful and wonderful market place selling everything from garlands of red chilies to fresh fruit and vegetables, cured meats, Serrano hams and seafood. This offered us a great opportunity to capture all the action and excitement that this hub creates.
One of the most inspirational visits was to the Museum of Contemporary Art, where the pupils were challenged with contemporary and contextual pieces of art. This experience prepares the pupils for their future within design, giving them the chance to experience conceptual work from an audience’s point of view and also broadening there knowledge of what art can be.
Overall pupils and staff returned home full of new ideas and experiences ready for the exciting new projects that this year has in store for them!