Lockdown life in a bubble inspires creative response from Strathpeffer Primary School pupils with help from sculptor James Ritchie
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A QUIRKY idea to explore the impact of the coronavirus lockdown on children in Ross-shire has inspired a creative response from young people at one of the primary schools.
Artist James Ritchie, who has made a name for himself with his unique sculptures, is the son of Strathpeffer Primary School head teacher, Carolyn Ritchie.
She said: “This has been a tricky year for everyone, especially for young children. During lockdown earlier this year, we were all in our home bubbles and learning from home.
“Once we returned to school, we decided to explore what happy memories the children had about lockdown, and what things they liked the most about it.
“My son James, an artist blacksmith sculptor, had an idea for the children to draw their happy memories in the form of a traditional glass dome bubble. James had created hundreds of little clay figures at art school, as part of his third-year practice.
“Recently, he used the clay figures to raise money for the dementia awareness charity in Dingwall by selling them at various craft fairs he attended. He had a few clay figures left over, which gave him the idea after talking to me about the children exploring their happy memories in lockdown. James created a glass dome bubble paper template for the children – then the whole school drew pictures of their lockdown bubble memories on the glass dome template.
“The results were wonderful. James was given the challenging task of judging the drawings to find a winner for his glass dome sculpture. It was a tricky decision, but finally, the entries were whittled down, and the winner was Eilish Campbell in Primary 4.”
He donated his artwork – the Glass Dome Bubble – as a special prize to the delight of Eilish, a long-term reminder of the year 2020 and living life in a bubble.
