Join the Mayor of Islington in celebrating a decade of MakeArt at Islington Arts Factory

Private View: 2nd December 6pm - 8pm
Exhibition: 2nd - 22nd December 2016

This year Islington Arts Factory celebrates a decade of our innovative MakeArt programme which provides enriching education and exhibition opportunities for young people aged 4 - 19 from across the borough. The Mayor of Islington will open the MakeArt exhibition on the 2nd December to a crowd of artists, families and well wishers.

A majestic fire breathing dragon will preside over the gallery, while a creepy graveyard, complete with ghouls and ghosts forms the dramatic centrepiece. A skate park inspired group painting spanning 20ft will dazzle in bright fluorescent tones.
Having explored a variety of drawing and painting techniques, teenage artists from our MakeMoreArt class present a selection of self portraits alongside studies from ornamental stone carvings from across the classical world. These works on paper and canvas are joined by contributions from those who attended IAF's Summerversity Drawing and Painting Workshops.

A herd of horse paintings from Tuesday MakeArt  (7 - 11s) were inspired by George Stubbs' famous painting Whistlejacket. Saturday ArtStart (4 - 6s) were also motivated to explore the equine with a series of magical unicorns. Taking inspiration from the wonderful world of insects, Thursday MakeArt (7 - 11s) have created prints that explore symmetry and colour with mark making.

IAF's  young ceramicists have individually crafted an impressive collection of 3D textured tiles that combine to create a sublime cityscape. Clay Level 1 will present a selection of characterful busts depicting imaginary beings while Clay Level 2 students are preparing a Feast, with plentiful platters richly decorated in slip, wax, glaze and stain washes to create sumptuous surfaces to whet the appetite.

Islington Arts Factory's outreach work is represented by fabulous colourful creations form ArtyKids at Hugh Myddleton Primary School.
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''At Islington Arts Factory we are proud to champion the benefits that involvement in visual arts activities give to children. We offer a nurturing space for creative expression outside of the school system. We believe in supporting children's unique visions and helping them to develop as artist and as individuals within a supportive framework.''
Join us at this celebration of the extraordinary and vivid imaginations, the hard work and sustained commitment of all our young artists.​
Eleanor Pearce, Director of Art,Islington Arts Factory

With big, bold and colourful art work by over 75 talented young artists aged 4 - 16, the MakeArt exhibition explodes into the IAF galleries this December.

​The magnificent centre piece will be a fabulous Creepy Castle flanked by towering sculptures of The King of Queen of Autumn. There will be exquisite detailed pen drawing and tributes to American pop art from our teens and a fully functional  puppet theatre complete with a range of animal puppets made by our 4 - 6's ArtStart class. A giant tree sculpture from our clay class will adorn the walls. Showcasing group painting, drawing, sculpture and pottery from the MakeArt Programme, this year we are joined by contributions from Islington's Summerversity and art groups from Hugh Myddelton and Tufnell Park primary schools. 

The Mayor of Islington  Councillor Richard Greening will officially declare the exhibition open at the private view on the 4th December after a special performance by the Young Factory Dance Co of Gothic Gargoyles around the Creepy Castle.
MakeArt classes are led by practicing professional artists committed  to passing on their skills.