On Wednesday evening (13 January) a round table discussion took place at the South London Gallery, chaired by Frances Williams - Education and Outreach Manager - amongst artists, educationalists, and play workers, around the themes of play, the possible similarities / differences of approach by artists / play workers working with children and young people, and whether children's play has any relationship to contemporary art practice.
Participants included: Tim Gill, Orly Orbach, Jessica Thom, Lauren Willis, and playworkers from the Charlie Chaplin Adventure Playground.
In the spirit of play, a football match was held in the empty gallery, before the discussion. The two sets of doors were perfect as goals and an empty rigging became the sin bin area where players were sent for their offences. I was the referee, insisting on just two rules:
1 If you kicked the ball and it touched the walls you were sent off
2 The decisions of the ref were unquestionable
The game was played in a highly competitive yet fair spirit.
The score was 4 - 1.
The winners were naturally 'over the moon' the losers 'sick as parrots'.
This proved the perfect ice - breaker for the discussion, which was recorded, and I hope to include excerpts of it here in this blog.
To further aid the discussion going, prompt words were written on footballs, for participants to respond to.
The Man in Black
The Sin Bin
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