Caxton College Opens Students’ Art Exhibition Attended by Rafa de Corral

The Basque artist Rafa de Corral attended the opening of the 8^th edition of the Art Exhibition that Caxton College organises every year to promote contemporary art throughout its educational community.

Caxton College opened its annual art exhibition, with the intriguing title ‘Shaping the Human Condition’, to celebrate the work of its Art students in Years 11 and 13. As in previous editions, the school invited an artist to school to speak with the students who had taken part in the exhibition held in the Young Artist Gallery at Caxton College. On this occasion, the Basque artist who has lived in Valencia for decades, Rafa de Corral, was given a tour of the exhibition by the students, who explained to him their creative process. ‘What surprised me the most is that they have a true vocation for art, despite the fact that only three students are considering studying Fine Arts’, the artist said. ‘In addition, I really liked seeing how they resolve complicated parts of their paintings in a very coherent and creative way’.

Rafa de Corral joins the long list of artists who have visited Caxton College for its traditional exhibitions of young artists. José María Yrturralde, Paco Roca, José Saborit or Uiso Alemany are some of the most relevant artists who, together with Rafa de Corral, join these artistic and educational events whose aim is to promote the creative talent of the students.

Before the inauguration, students were able to ask Rafa de Corral about a variety of topics related to the artistic profession, degrees in Fine Arts or artistic style and voice. They also had the opportunity to explain the academic process of the subject of Art. In this regard, De Corral said, ‘In Spain, artistic education is not attributed the importance it deserves. I think that schools should encourage artistic development from an early age. It’s great that schools like this one are promoting it, and in a very positive way’.

The artistic event, attended by families, teachers and students, included live music by students in a very relaxed and inspiring atmosphere that featured the leadership of the new Head of the Art Department in Secondary, Charlotte Owen, who at all times encouraged her students to continue projecting the best of themselves through art. Lastly, Rafa de Corral, who will exhibit at the Sporting Club in Valencia on June 3 for the Russafart Festival and in Germany, specifically at the Espacio BcmA in Berlin, on June 18, said goodbye to the students, addressing those who have decided to pursue art in any of its forms. The artist concluded by saying, ‘You should know that this is a long-distance race, in which you have to work with all sincerity. Try not to let yourself be influenced by trends. Follow your own path to develop your own voice’.