 | | Enquire team students |
The Enquire team, a new youth arts project, based at the Sainsbury Centre at the University Of East Anglia, have called for images from members of the public for their inaugural exhibition, What Is Your Ritual? The team wanted pictures of people from all walks of life, in all parts of the world, which tell stories of their routine. This could be the celebration of a special event like a birthday or wedding, or a simple daily routines such as cleaning your teeth or brushing your hair. The team also hope to capture people's subconscious habits like checking the cooker is turned off or if you locked the door, to religious and cultural events. Hidden stories The project has been inspired by the collection of world art at the Sainsbury Centre, which includes many objects that hide stories of rituals which still have relevance to those we perform today. The Dan Spoon from the Robert and Lisa Sainsbury Centre is one such artefact. It is a symbol of hospitality in West Africa's Dan society and belongs to the village's most hospitable woman whose role it is to provide lavish feasts. Women grow and prepare food for the Dan and at certain feasts, the spoon holder dances through the village holding the spoon and rice bowl. Art students
 | | Enquire's celebratory ritual, perhaps? |
The Enquire team is part of a nationwide project co-ordinated and funded by Engage, the national association for gallery education. Seven young people aged between 15 and 18 from the Hewett, Earlham High and Norwich School, saw posters for the project and decided they wanted to take part. The students, all studying art, wanted to get involved and have the opportunity to develop their skills. They also saw it as a way to encourage other young people to visit the gallery, use its resources and enjoy the collections. The exhibition of submitted works can be viewed at The Sainsbury Centre on Saturday, 21 April, 2007 between 11am and 5pm. Photo credits: Andi Sapey | 
