For two days during MUSEUM WEEK Linda created a buzz at Langley Academy working with the pupils to make an installation in response to their Museum Collection. Langley Academy are the only school in the UK with a specifically installed museum. Encouraging young people to be curious explorers of the world Linda used ideas of the absurd and characterisation of objects. She worked with classes such as Geography, English, Science. Students from a range of ages and classes then worked with Linda using experimental processes including black and white photocopying and large scale laminating to create an alternative view of the museum.
How are Artists Inspired by Objects???
The Academy’s Art department were privileged to work with creative practitioner, Linda Jane James for two days during Museum Learning Focus Week. An integral part of Museum Learning is the exploration of objects and the story behind objects. Many artists and designers are inspired by the aesthetics of objects, their origins and functions.
With this in mind Linda spent her first day in the Academy working with students across all subject areas creating little sketches which related to their lessons and the objects on display in the Academy’s Museum Collection. Having collated all the information and illustrations gathered on day one, Linda’s second day in the Academy was spent working with KS4 art students. Using a range of Black and White materials, the black and white printer/photocopier and laminator, students created a variety of artworks based inspired by their interpretation of the Museum’s Collection.
After working nonstop with the students it was when the Academy closed for the day that the real work started. With the aid of 3 GCSE Art Students (Seema Doll, Jade Scammell, Chloe Robbins) Linda and myself worked late into the evening to construct a conceptual installation which creatively illustrates all the thoughts and ideas discussed through Museum Learning and the students’ perception of the objects in the Academy.
The final piece was unveiled during The Academy’s first Museum Private View which took place on Wednesday 1st December. It was unveiled to students the following morning thus enabling students to look at the work they created in a different, 3Dimensional environment. Over the next few weeks students and staff will be given the opportunity to explore the art work, question it and develop ideas from it.

'Working with Linda was a great expreience, both as a teacher and an artist. Over 2 days we worked with GCSE students to create a installation inspired by the objects in the Academy's Museum. The students thoroughly enjoyed working with a practicing artist and learnt a lot from the experience.'
Beth Brock
Subject Leader for Textiles: Teacher of Art and Design
'Having Linda present in the Academy for our Museum Learning Week allowed the students to engage in new ways to our installations and museum displays. Linda worked with the existing structure of the Academy responding to what teachers were doing in the classroom expressing insights into looking and responding to objects. The booklets produced are now part of our archive and the work produced by the students were experimental in material and approach. A beautiful caption of what is possible through looking.' Head of Museum Learning, Langley Academy