ARTIST ROOMS Learning Programme BILL VIOLA Dick Institute, Kilmarnock 3 September – 24 December 2011 Kate Davies, Cultural Development Coordinator – Visual Arts and Exhibitions Cultural and Countryside Services East Ayrshire Council

Bill Viola ARTIST ROOMS Learning Programme, Dick Institute 2011 Bill Viola Studio Adding to ARTIST ROOMS collections Practicalities Budgets Outcomes Experience

Bill Viola ARTIST ROOMS Learning Programme, Dick Institute 2011 ARTIST ROOMS ‘To establish and maintain effective collaborations between curators, educators and other gallery staff to maximise the potential of ARTIST ROOMS and realise its key objectives’

Bill Viola ARTIST ROOMS Learning Programme, Dick Institute 2011 Viola Learning Programme Team Phillipa Aitken Kate Davies Michelle Laats Michaella Mullen Carol Keohone Louise Kyle Arts and Media Development Manager Visual Arts and Media Officer Performing Arts Development Officer Arts Coordinator Audience Development Assistant Audience Development Officer Michelle Laats and Michaella Mullen Marco Rea and Clare Kelly Jack Henderson Calum Coutts Mike Scott Kenny Caldwell Artists Drama Music Dance Visual Art Photography Film

VIOLA LEARNING PROGRAMME ‘Viola’s Predellas’ (age group 13 – 18) Mime and Chorus Work Sound Composition Chirology and Movement ‘Catherine’s Room’ (age group 15 – 21) Twilight series of workshops which took place at the Dick Institute every week. A group of participants 10 from across East Ayrshire aged 15–21 used drama and visual art to explore and develop their piece. Sharing Event The finished work was created within six weeks and performed at a sharing event at the Dick Institute on 7th November by the 50 students in the four workshop groups from Grange Academy, Kilmarnock Academy, Park School, Kilmarnock College and Cumnock Academy. Photography, sound recording and film were used to document the project and as the outcome of the work. Publication Thanks to support from the Art Fund it was made possible for us to produce a publication folder with insert and documenting DVD recorded at the sharing event. Bill Viola ARTIST ROOMS Learning Programme, Dick Institute 2011

Working on this learning programme with the students changed my thoughts and views and the way I looked at Viola’s work. As a drama artist I found the videos and techniques Bill Viola uses very inspiring and engaging. It taught me new ways of creating powerful pieces of theatre with the young people. Michelle Laats Writing music with Kilmarnock Academy for the Viola project was a really exciting process. Each of the three works gave us different ideas but seemed to give a consistent feel through the compositions. The pupils at Kilmarnock Academy were always confident to try new ideas with their voices and instruments. Marco Rea Using Bill Viola’s work, ‘Four Hands’, as a primary source and ancient rituals as a secondary source we collaborated to create an ambulomantic structure (a form of divination involving walking in circles) with chirological movements inspired by sign language, Buddhist mudras (symbolic hand gestures) and movements of the students’ own invention. The finished piece required a sense of stillness and containment, again a reflection of Viola’s work which the students delivered from a true understanding of the work. Jack Henderson

Mime and Chirology – Grange Academy

Sound Composition – Kilmarnock Academy

Park School – Chirology and Movement

Catherine’s Room – Kilmarnock College and individuals

SUMMARY Collaboration between curatorial staff and educators Dialogue and dual learning process for staff, artists and learners Professional development and maintaining international contacts Professional collaborations Level of work achieved by young people Future Bill Viola ARTIST ROOMS Learning Programme, Dick Institute 2011

I learned to look at art more closely Male participant, age 13 The project helped me learn how to express emotions on my face, and about Bill Viola and his work Male participant, age 13 I found the experience of the project thrilling and moving Female participant, age 15 I learned how to express different emotions through very slight movements Female participant, age 18 Something I learned is that performance is just as inspirational and thought-provoking as any other practical art work Female participant, age 20 It was a great experience and a great musical outcome. I realised that moving image is something that is emotional and exciting. Female participant, age 15