Developed from research carried out with Pyrah’s former pupils and colleagues, Ewan’s project explores the teacher’s unconventional methods and continues Ewan’s investigation into alternative education models and overlooked histories. Reconstructed as faithfully as possible, the classroom walls showcase children’s paintings, drawings and embroidery drawn from the NAEA collection.
Activating the artwork and bringing the space to life, Ewan invites people to contribute to the space and to participate in creative activities echoing those taught by Pyrah, including studying nature through creativity. Ewan has created a situation for people to think about creative education, its impact upon social mobility, and how this can be mobilised today at a time when creative forms of learning have been marginalised from the curriculum.