ROCK PAPER SCISSORS Amy Rose Barnes 1 Sep 2021 – 31 Jul 2023 Back Amy Rose Barnes has been our first ROCK PAPER SCISSORS artist-in-residence working with Year 1 and Year 5 at Charlotte Sharman Primary School to transform the studio into an immersive installation of drawings, pattern and texture. Over the weeks they have been exploring abstraction, environment and camouflage to adorn the studio with works-on-paper, drawings made directly onto the walls, floor and hung at various heights. They have also made wearable drawings so they can get lost in their surroundings! The children have been able to apply their own imagination to the immersive ‘world’ which they created, some describing it as ‘a jungle,’ ‘a planet,’ ‘underwater’, ‘somewhere that’s not like London,’ ‘a child’s dream’ or ‘another dimension.’ The idea of ‘camouflage’ has opened up interesting philosophical questions around the desire to fit in, be a part of group, stand out and being individual. The project was documented to make a film which was screened at a celebration alongside parents. As part of ROCK PAPER SCISSORS, Amy also led a bespoke Family Studio project in Summer 2022, which was delivered in partnership with SLAM, an NHS organisation who work with families dealing with post-traumatic stress, advanced anxiety and a range of social challenges. Over a series of carefully devised sessions for an invited group, Amy set up sensory and material-based drawing activities at Victory Children’s Centre, to explore materials and pattern as a form of play between parent and child. As part of our ROCK PAPER SCISSORS Artist Forum, Amy is co-leading a session with artist Lucie MacGregor, finding connections between their practices and to share learning from recent projects with other artists and team of Workshop Assistants. Family Activity Sheets by Amy Rose Barnes: PATTERNS Amy Rose Barnes is passionate about making art more accessible for children from working class backgrounds and is particularly interested in the relationship between art and well-being. In her practice, she plays with abstracting nature through the use of drawing, collage, textiles and painting, inspired by commonly observed, but often overlooked, natural patterns. She graduated in Fine Art Painting from Wimbledon College of Art, 2017. Amy was shortlisted for both the Indigo Planning Prize and the Prunella Clough Award 2016, and was awarded the SPACE Prize, 2017. Her exhibitions include HIGHLIGHTS (2016), Mirage (2016), 109 nails (2017) and Biomorph (2019). During lockdown in 2020, Amy produced a book ‘Patterns by Post’ from a ROCK PAPER SCISSORS postal project delivered over the lockdown with children from Elephant and Castle. Thanks to all involved: Children of Year 1, Charlotte Sharman Primary School Children of Year 5, Charlotte Sharman Primary School Shanti, Y6 Helper, Charlotte Sharman Primary School Amy Rose Barnes, Artist Betsy Dadd, Learning Curator, Drawing Room Chizera Whitrod, Teacher, Charlotte Sharman Primary School Jordan Edwards, Sound and Film Edit Kate Tidnam, SLAM, NHS Mental Health Practitioner Genevieve Miller, Learning Coordinator, Drawing Room Matilde Rahtz, SLAM, NHS Mental Health Practitioner Misty Ingham, Learning Curator Maternity Cover, Drawing Room Lydia CS, Cinematography Lyndsay Fawcitt, Teacher, Charlotte Sharman Primary School Solomon Williams, Workshop Assistant, Drawing Room Scrapbook https://drawingroom.org.uk/app/uploads/2023/02/Naomi.wav I explore drawing that is inspired by materiality, colours, patterns and textures. When I draw I let the pen guide me in an intuitive, meditative way which helps me to feel relaxed and at one with the work. Amy Rose Barnes, Artist Abstract art is making something that’s really weird but in a good way. Ruby, child The sessions were relaxing and engaged the participants at their own pace. They were welcoming and unthreatening. Matilde, NHS Mental Health Nurse https://drawingroom.org.uk/app/uploads/2023/02/Purple.wav It was a great experience to work with mums with such young children. It taught me a lot about the early years stages of development and how we can encourage art from a young age. Amy Rose Barnes, Artist Usually you think about what to draw before you start but with abstract you draw and think at the same time- it's more fun that way. Ava Li, child I loved it so much it made me want to draw even more. Sulaiman, child This is a child’s dream. Stevie, child