Big Draw 2003 North East Launch

Before you even got into BALTIC, artist Ben Long attracted attention with his drawing on the back of a dirty van, parked outside. Ben uses the dirt from exhaust fumes to produce stunning wildlife pictures.

Inside was a hive of different activities, exploring drawing in imaginative and innovative ways, led by PGCE students and teachers from Northumbria University in collaboration with BALTIC.

Families enjoyed using unusual implements to draw their first impressions of BALTIC and its surroundings.

The famous Tyneside views were transcribed onto a giant mural by enthusiastic visitors of all ages. String, beads and other unconventional materials were used to make drawings which were animated onto film.

One of the most stimulating activities was shadow drawing. Inspired by the strong shadow thrown by a contemporary metal chair, this theme was developed using dramatic cane structures, topped by simple cut-out shapes.