School children in Lancaster have been learning about a pioneering artist and inventor who once lived in the city and brought art to all.
Pupils at Dallas Road Primary School and Lancaster Girls Grammar School took part in workshops offered by Lancashire-based arts and heritage charity, Mirador, as part of their Copy That project which celebrates the life of Karel Klic and is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Originally from Bohemia, now the Czech Republic, Karel Klic settled in Lancaster for several years from the 1890s. Along with the city’s Storey Brothers, he developed photogravure printing and established the Rembrandt Intaglio Printing Company whose revolutionary process for reproducing high quality images brought art to the masses.
“Neither of the schools were aware of Karel Klic or Lancaster’s involvement in the printing revolution in the late 19th Century so it was great to see them embracing the activities,” said artist Lela Harris who led the workshops.
At Dallas Road Primary School, Lela worked with more than 60 children in creating collage postcards while 30 LGGS pupils took part in her zine sessions. The postcards and zines celebrated and remembered Klic’s life and how his work with Storey Brothers saw Lancaster at the centre of a global printing revolution.
Both sessions began with an overview of Klic’s life both abroad and in Lancaster and how his achievements led to the modern day photocopier and the chance for people of all classes to have fine art prints in their own homes.
Pupils then used a technical rotogravure text to create their own poetry. The main element of both sessions involved children collaging visual images from magazines and old newspapers to celebrate Klic’s life and the role that Lancaster played in his achievements.
“It’s been an incredible privilege to work with young people across Lancaster to celebrate and remember Karel Klic’s life,” said Lela.
“The pupils really embraced becoming creative history detectives and the work that they have produced has been outstanding.”
All the activities featured in the school workshops are also included in a special free education and resource pack available for anyone, including schools, to download here
