Nick Sayers
Maths, art and recycling projects in schools
Nick Sayers : My work I am an artist and graphic designer based in Brighton & Hove. I make spherical sculptures, shelters and lighting from recycled, reused and re‑purposed materials. My work playfully explores the beauty of geometric symmetry and the creative potential of sustainable design. The range of materials I’ve worked with to build structures has included recycled plastic, car tyres, estate agent signs, drink bottles and measuring tape. I’ve delivered public art sculpture commissions, artist residencies and lectures about my work at schools and universities. My artworks and installations have been shown at Bridges international math-art exhibition in Portugal and Hungary, Maker Faire, Brighton Festival, Vintage At Goodwood, White Night, The Lightbox (Woking), Brighton Artists’ Open Houses and Green Architecture Day.
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Imagine All the people
Festival sculpture and plaything celebrates world cultures Sixty 8-10 year olds dressed up in world costumes and posed for photos against a cinematic green screen, during workshops I ran at this school. The resulting silhouettes were machine cut from recycled plastic by a local sign shop, and pupils helped build a 1.4-metre ball which was shown at World Party In The Park, a world arts festival in Basingstoke. The sculpture, which children can also use as a rollable plaything, was donated to school. Nick Sayers
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School: Cherrywood Community Infant School, Farnborough Commissioned by: The Making/Cultural Olympiad Sculpture dimensions: 1.4 metres diameter (average participating child’s height) Materials: Stokbord recycled plastic Time scale: May – July 2011 Budget: £4,500
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Giant Pantograph!
A fun demonstration of the magic of maths, mechanics and drawing Participants can use this Heath Robinson inspired machine to trace miniature outlines of their friends directly onto a sheet of A4 art paper. Initially commissioned as a fun workshop for World Party In The Park, Basingstoke, I have taken this 2-metre long pantograph drawing machine to a variety of festivals, schools and outdoor events. The workshop demonstrates how simple maths and mechanics can be used to make art. Nick Sayers
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Host venues (July-Sept 2011): • World Party In The Park, Basingstoke • Honeycroft nursery, Hove • The Pells pool, Lewes • Maker Faire Brighton Commissioned by: The Making Pantograph dimensions: 2 metres long (arms) x 50cm high Space required: 4 metres x 3 metres Drawing dimensions: A4 (210cm x 297cm)
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Queens, Kings and One Jack
Artist residency results in a stunning symmetrical sculpture of students’ face cards Thirty students brought treasured possessions into college and had their photos taken against a cinematic green screen. Working as artist in residence I manipulated these photos to make giant symmetrical face cards. These were professionally printed and laminated at a local print shop, and slotted together to make a stunning sculpture that now hangs in the college reception.
Nick Sayers
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School: Buile Hill Visual Arts College, Salford Commissioned by: Buile Hill College Sculpture dimensions: Approx 70 cm diameter Materials: Printed, UV-laminated card Budget: £1,200 Time scale: 7 – 11 Feb 2011
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07812 036415
Sphere of shadows
Sculptural play structure commemorates 120 children who built an Outdoor Classroom 120 Year 6 pupils helped put together a new Outdoor Classroom at this school. I was commissioned to make a permanent 120‑part sculpture with them. I designed a 1.5-metre spherical lattice using their silhouettes holding hands, which were machine-cut by a local sign shop. The sculpture was constructed with the children’s help and is now displayed in the outdoor space. It can also be taken down and used as a giant play ball. Nick Sayers
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School: Stourfield Junior School, Bournemouth Commissioned by: Bournemouth Council Sculpture dimensions: 1.5 metres diameter (average participating child’s height) Materials: Stokbord recycled plastic Time scale: May – July 2010 Budget: £5,000
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07812 036415
To Play: ‘For sale’ sign playhouse
Playhouse and quiet reading pod built from scrap estate agent signs The art teacher at this infant school was inspired by larger geodesic domes I’ve built from estate agent signs, and commissioned me to make a children’s playhouse. I delivered the sculpture to the school and had an exciting Q&A with the pupils, who asked some very insightful questions (eg: “If you want to live in your shelter, where will you put the fridge?”). To Play is now used as a quiet reading space for children in the school’s library. Nick Sayers
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School: Meadowcroft Community Infant School, Surrey Commissioned by: Meadowcroft School Sculpture dimensions: 1.2 metres diameter Materials: Scrap estate agent signs Time scale: May – July 2009 Budget: £1,200
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07812 036415
Nick Sayers | Artist | Graphic Designer www.flickr.com/nicksayers
www.nicksayers.com
07812 036415
mail@nicksayers.com