Art, Games and Play: Don Pavey and other Collections at Yorkshire Sculpture Park
Gemma Gibb, Associate Editor
This time of year is one of our favourites to play in Yorkshire Sculpture Park‘s stunning 500-acre landscape. It’s new “Season of Play” series of exhibitions, events and activities starts with a new exhibition exploring how art, games and play are interconnected through artist and educator Don Pavey’s extensive collection of toys and games.
Adventure together through children’s pictures, books, toys, puzzles and other artefacts – to be enjoyed, trigger memories or inspire activity.
The premise is that games and play are fundamental human behaviours, vital for shaping how we perceive and know the world we live in. Don Pavey was an influential teacher who used toys and art as part of his teaching practices and set up the Junior Art and Science Centre in London for children with an interest in art and science and wrote the 1979 book ‘Art-Based Games’. Pavey’s collections are displayed alongside those of other influential educators from the National Arts Education Archive, which is based at YSP.
Visitors can also contribute photos during their visit to new project Yorkshire Sculpture Park Photographic Grid (2018) which will also form part of the archive once the exhibition closes and interact with sculpture from every angle this summer with their new app ‘Sculpture Cam’.
With over 80 works in the open air top family spots in the incredible parkland include Playground by artist collective Greyworld (a musical sculpture that you can step across), Stepping Stones and the magical Shell Grotto.
Don’t miss outdoor sculpture building every Tuesday and special Forest Fridays in the holidays.
