Pupils explore the art of Frenze Beck

Inspirational community artists Carole Reich and Charlotte Howarth were commissioned to create an artwork at Frenze Beck to encourage visitors - particularly families - to explore the site by highlighting the local wildlife.

They have designed a frieze inspired by the flora and fauna at Frenze Beck, which will be carved into Killarney stone, helping to develop a strong identity for the site, and functioning as an educational tool that acts to help safeguard the wildlife.

The artists led three sessions with 60 children taking part in each of the workshops from Diss Infants and Nursery Community School, Fitzwalter Road, Diss during March.

These sessions were geared towards allowing pupils to explore different mediums and focus on mark making.

Diss Infant school year 2’s (ages 6 to 7) also explored local species at a microscopic level, made botanical drawings and created pattern designs for block printing onto fabric.

Teacher Lynn Schugg said:

“The children really got excited by the artists’ visits and were surprised by the outcome of their own work. It has been a fantastic opportunity for all of us to work alongside an artist in school and to encourage our children to develop a real sense of community.”

Here are some of the reactions of the school children:

Robin: “I didn’t know there were so many patterns just round about.”

Shannon: “It was really good fun”.

Georgia: “Carole is a clever artist - I’ve never met an artist before!”

Matthew: “Can we go to the opening!”

Their work will also help inform the artists’ own designs and a sculptural relief panel will be installed in the boardwalk, at the nature reserve, after the opening event on Saturday June 3.

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