Artists in residence at the ADES Conference, 2005

In autumn 2005, the Scottish Arts Council Education department and the Association of Directors of Education Scotland (ADES) decided to bring a creative dimension to the annual ADES conference. 

They invited two artists, Debs Norton and Gaylie Runciman, to become ‘artists’ in residence’ for the two days.  Both artists have a background in Fine Art, advanced 3D motion graphics and have formed the company rm*.  They focus on developing ideas:

• using 3D animation in unconventional ways,
• taking animation away from character-based storytelling,
• moving out of the confines of narration, and
• making subtle intriguing work for public spaces. 

They are also both experienced in working in educational contexts. Debs and Gaylie most recently developed Symbolic Spaces, a unique education project working across schools in East Ayrshire.  Using the 3D software package Rhino, a CAD based industrial design package, they worked with students to realize their own animations based on the conceptual idea of symbolic space.

For the ADES conference, the artists were positioned just outside the main hall so that they could interact with delegates during the breaks.  Many of the delegates took the opportunity to sit with the artists and discuss the possibilities of creative engagement through new technologies.

As well as working on an animation piece and demonstrating the software to delegates, they discussed its potential across subject areas such as maths, biology and history.

‘We knew the potential for introducing a 3D project into a school. We knew it was possible; we just weren’t quite sure how to best go about it.  Six months after the conclusion of the Symbolic Spaces project we are still immensely proud of the results and the students and therefore were very pleased to be asked as artists in residence for the two days of the ADES Conference in Peebles. '

'We were able to discuss with delegates the potential of introducing this kind of project into schools.  Discussions ranged from the possibility of using 3D to reconstruct Roman baths, Crannogs, even the school itself to better understand how these buildings functioned.   Students could virtually build a village in central Africa and through research, refine and revise plans to make a better functioning environment.  3D is all maths based and with programmes like Rhino, geometry literally takes on a new dimension.  As artists we had been convinced we could introduce what is essentially a CAD based engineering package to students and have them make it into a creative tool.  What was the most satisfying was talking to delegates, all of whom ‘got it’ and were as enthusiastic and excited about its application and potential for collaboration across school disciplines as we were.'
- Debs Norton and Gaylie Runciman