Steps of Ten
Joanna Fursman and The Oval School
These photographs were made with children now in Year Six at The Oval School in Yardley, Birmingham, England and made for a commission for Ikon Gallery Creative Connections programme. Aiming to give the children the autonomy to decide and explore what they wished to capture, they used their photography skills to explore their everyday journeys and connections to significant spaces around the school environment. Using a ‘Photo Walk’ method, the images were achieved by taking a photograph every 10 steps, capturing and documenting important places to help the children to express new connections to things and spaces, express feelings and begin discussions.
Many thanks to the children and all staff at The Oval School.
Artist biography
My practice uses photography and lens-based approaches to explore contemporary education and relational appearances of pedagogy. Made via practice-based research, I use these approaches to give young people opportunities to express their ideas and thoughts about being educated. Photographs made with young people in my ongoing project called ‘Looking for a New School Portrait’ have been purchased by the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, exhibited at The British Art Show 9 Ikon Gallery and Eastside Projects. I am a member of the Women in Photography West Midlands network and a Senior Lecturer in Art Education at Birmingham City University, UK.
