September 4 2004, Saturday
THROUGH "CHALCOT’S EYES," AND THANKS TO SCHOOL’S "PHOTO CLUB" YOU CAN SEE TEN YOUNG MEN PRESENTING PHOTOGRAPHED SCENES OF LONDON THAT FEATURE CEMETERY, CLOCK TOWER, MUSEUMS, SQUARE, UNDERGROUND, ZOO, ETC., AT GALLERY 27
We learnt that there are five Special Needs schools in London, and one of them is Chalcot. Based in Camden, in North London, Chalcot School has between forty and fifty pupils, ten of which have been brought together – thanks to the School’s "Photo Club," to carefully photograph and produce a collection of scenes in, and around, well-known London places like: Big Ben; British Museum; Covent Garden; Highgate Cemetery; London Eye; London Zoo; Natural History Museum; Southbank; Tate Modern, Trafalgar Square and Underground. Today is the last day to see the end result – an exhibition entitled, "Chalcot’s Eyes," where you can see over three-dozen photographs, not including portraits of the pupils themselves (which can be seen in the gallery’s downstairs and which were taken by photography tutor, Robert Goldstein). An extract from the press release, which we read on visiting the exhibition’s opening - on Tuesday last, tells more about the school and how the exhibition came about, ’Camden’s Chalcot School caters for the needs of young men aged 11-16, who have a variety of Emotional, Social and Behavioural Difficulties. Working with reportage photographer, Robert Goldstein, the Photo Club project began in March 2003, as part of the Vocational Training Programme.
The concept for the show
was to have the pupils look at London though a camera. Because most of the
pupils had never been to some of the places they photographed, they found a
fresh perspective on everything. Photography has been a way for pupils to
explore and develop new skills, motivate them and work towards releasing
negative energy in a creative field.’ Each pupil is showing between one and
seven of photographs, measuring 16 inches x 20 inches and printed on Agfa multi
contrast fibre paper. Prices are £200 each unframed, or £250 framed, with
profits going to the School. The photographers are: Alex; Blue; Charlie; David;
Dominic; James; Mark; Mubarek; Steven and Tom and we recommend you drop in and
see their works.
MENU A: Free
E: (see websites)
L: Gallery 27, 27 Cork Street, London, W1
M: Chalcot School, Harmood Street, Camden, London, NW1 8DP
N: 020 7485 2147
T: Green Park (Jubilee, Piccadilly & Victoria lines)
W: http://www.chalcot.camden.sch.uk/
http://www.robertgoldstein.com/
