'Dear Jackie'

 70s and 80s teen magazine photo stories revisited by students from The Highfield School.

Rhiannon Moxham was one of the key people leading the project. This is what she says about it:

''In October 2009, I did my work experience at The Letchworth Arts Centre and was given a project to do; a project to re-create the storyboards that were featured in the popular 70s and 80s magazine Jackie. I wanted to make sure the reinvented storyboards were still as entertaining (and cringy!) as they were back then, but I also wanted to use them as a medium to give advice to people my age.  Issues such as bullying, feeling under pressure to lose weight and getting very stressed about exams are subjects which, young people, including myself struggle with daily --  I feel that this exhibition can be very helpful to them!

After being granted the money we needed to make this project successful by The Big Spend,  ‘Dear Jackie’ was well unde rway! We began to create stories  based on problems we knew ourselves happened regularly. Then, we were able to find models to be in the photographs so we could put them all together afterwards and edit them into ‘Jackie’ themed storyboards. This being my first exhibition, it has been a great experience to learn how to organise and then bring all the work we have done together to be displayed for everybody to see -- not only that, but it is the first step towards the life within art I would love to have.

I wish to sincerely thank everybody who has been involved in helping me to bring ‘Dear Jackie' to life!

I would like to give a special thank you to Sian Wilson and Sarah Neesam for all the help they have given me throughout this project. My mother, Caroline Moxham for always being able to do the running around for us and supporting me, Maria Iredale, for providing me the opportunity by giving me the project on my work experience, Selina Yip, for helping us design the storyboard layouts, Jenni Clift and Icas Vilas Fine Art for framing all the work.

Also, all the models who are featured in the photographs: Emily Inglis, Lauren Hart, Sarah Neesam, Sian Wilson, John Wallis, Ellie Rose Briars, Daisy Mckenna, Caroline Moxham, Andrew Carrod, Daisy Doncaster, Paul Warman, George Briggs, Scott Hetherington, Georgina Stretch, Camilla Hayes, Farzana Ali, Connie Shorrocks, Dilly Hartley, Jon Grant, Jane Neesam, and, of course, Tess, the dog.'' 

Rhiannon Moxham.