Simon & Tom Bloor: Loose Parts is the most recent exhibition in the annual series by the Children's Art Commission at the Whitechapel Gallery. The title of the display is a reference to Simon Nicholson's 1971 article 'The Theory of Loose Parts' outlining principles of design methodology that encourage creative involvement of children and adults. Nicholson raises the issue of the lack of variables in rigid and static educational environments (classrooms, playgrounds, museums etc.) cheating the community of the chance to engage with spaces and objects in a playful way extending beyond the contemplative. Loose Parts executes the idea of adventure-playground flawlessly. Simon & Tom Bloor exhibit the results of creative workshops on the theme of 'rebellion' carried out with children in a local school. Walls in the two rooms are transformed into jumbo blackboards stretching up to the ceiling, covered with words and drawings in multicoloured chalk. In Gallery 5 they surround an army of small white clay sculptures - results of hands having clenched and thumbed the sticky lumps into their existing shape. Gallery 6 gives centre stage to chalk sculptures presented for the visitors to get involved and leave their imprint on the wall or, as the exhibitors put it, participate in 'the act of encouraged vandalism'. For some it's an opportunity for a 'cogito ergo sum' kind of statement - "I have chalk and can write", for others it's a chance to draw a cat. However my personal favourite was, according to the web, a Leah Wilson misquote "love is a weapon the size of your fist" - a call to dare to make a mark in the passionate battle of life. Children's Art Commission: Simon & Tom Bloor: Loose Parts 19 March 2013 - 9 June 2013
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