Terry Setch

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Study of the work of environmental beachcomber artist Terry Setch.

Presenter Kim Howells introduces Terry Setch as an artist who came to Cardiff in the 1960's and for over forty years has been a 'kind of artistic beachcomber'. He has taken as both subject and medium the rubbish that washes up on the shoreline of the Bristol Channel and incorporated it into a series of works that highlight our disposable society. In an interview with Setch and with archive film clips of him collecting rubbish from the beach he talks about the themes of man in conflict with nature. The Torrey Canyon oil tanker disaster of 1968 off the Cornish coast led to Setch producing a series of large scale works on the theme of oil pollution. 'Once Upon a Time There Was Oil' was acquired by the Tate Britain gallery.
From: Framing Wales Episode 4
First Broadcast : 17 March 2011

Teachers' notes

Age Group : 9-11,11-14,14-16

Subject : Art & Design

Topic : Natural world, Painting and drawing

Keywords : Terry Setch, Abstract art, Pollution , Environment, Beachcombing

Notes : Look at clip of Terry Setch being interviewed about of his work - discuss the issues which arise ; pollution, environmental impact, disposable nature of society. Ask pupils if they have ever been beach combing and what they have found. Encourage them to try this out. Pupils could bring in pieces of small cleaned rubbish or recycling, then in groups on a large piece of thick card they could create their responses to pollution or rubbish using thick paint, PVA and distorted items brought in.


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