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AT HOME ~ ST FERGUS GALLERY

13th January 2009

Photograph of AT HOME ~ ST FERGUS GALLERY

An exhibition of over 1000 digital images featuring pupils of Hillhead Primary School, their families and home life runs in the St Fergus Gallery Wick from the 9th January until the 7th February 2009. Entitled "At Home" the pictures give a fascinating insight in to the lives of primary school pupils

Eight budget digital cameras were purchased by the school and used to take the pictures between October and December last year. Each of the 200 pupils took the camera home for a few nights. Instructions for using the camera were included and a number of themes were suggested which pupils or parents could take photographs of. These included my family, brothers and sisters, my house, my bedroom, mealtimes, my grandparents, celebrations and my favourite toy. A selection of pictures from each pupil has been printed in colour in a standard A4 size. They completely fill the gallery walls.

The pictures are accompanied by a number of short pieces of writing by pupils which have also been based on the themes the photographs are arranged in. Primary 7 pupil Ashleigh says "I like it when my granddad falls asleep with his hat over his eyes and starts to snore." Coran in Primary 4 thinks the "best thing about my dad is he tickles me." Grant A in Primary 2 tells us that he likes his house "because when I look out I can see boats passing." The pupils' writing is displayed alongside the photos.

Pupils from Primary 2 to 7 were also surveyed about some issues relevant to the exhibition themes. It was found that 92% of pupils now have access to the internet. Almost one in four pupils (24%) claimed to make their bed everyday whilst 40% said they never made their own bed. Some 92% of pupils now have a television in their bedroom. Playing a games console was the most popular spare time activity with 35% of them indicating they were most likely to do this in their free time.

Headteacher Ally Budge said "We are delighted with the outcome of this project It has been a great opportunity for the pupils to share more of their home life with their peers and the community. It has also given pupils the chance to involve their whole family in a school project. I think it will be a very interesting exhibition for the whole community."

The exhibition runs until February 9th and the opening hours are Saturday 10.30am - 1.00pm, Mon, Tues, and Thursday 12.30 - 5.30pm and Friday 12.30pm -8.00pm.