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Visual Art Programme for Schools October 2008

Created 2008-10-09 by Orla Henihan

Location: Rural - Co. Mayo

Duration: 2008-10-09 to 2008-11-03

Project Outline

The Linenhall Arts Centre�s Visual Art Programme for Schools is designed specifically for primary schools, and is offered to 28 schools in the Linenhall�s locality. These tour and workshop events are specifically designed to focus on selected aspects of the exhibiting artist�s work. They include a gallery talk introducing the work of the exhibiting artist during which children are encouraged to engage in discussion about the work. Following the gallery talk the children are brought to the Linenhall�s community arts room where they create their own pieces exploring in a practical way the particular aspects of the artist�s work which are being examined. Support materials are provided for teachers should they wish to follow up on the workshop in the classroom setting.

In October 2008 the programme focused on artist Deirdre Walshe`s exhibition Discovered Moments. Aims and objectives as follows:

Aims

1. To introduce children to the work of Irish artist, Deirdre Walsh, via a gallery tour and open discussion.

2. To engage children in critical reflection on visual art and in particular the still life and landscape works of Deirdre Walsh.

3. To engage children in a still life sketching and painting activity with special emphasis on the �process� involved, e.g. looking at the object and composition they are working from, colour mixing etc. and less emphasis on the perfectly drawn and painted finished piece.

Objectives

1. To provide children with information about the artist, her work, materials, etc. via a gallery tour and talk.

2. To engage children in discussion about;
- the content or subject matter of Deirdre Walsh�s paintings; where do they think the artist sources her subjects from? do they like the subjects? do they prefer the landscapes or still life�s and why?
- the materials the artist uses
- the colours, hues and tones used
- the use of artificial light in her paintings (how does this add to/or change the compositions/still lifes? or does it?) does this add a new dimension to the composition e.g. has the light awoken the items in any way? what about the light in her landscapes?

3.
- to introduce children to the colour wheel; (in the circumstances where a basic knowledge is already known, further information will be given on how to mute/enhance secondary colours, thus further developing the children�s knowledge of this device/art tool).

- to introduce children to acrylic paint

- to encourage children to set up their own individual still life using their chosen object (which they have brought with them to the workshop) and specific props set up in the workshop

- to encourage children to sketch a rough drawing of the item/s

- to engage children in colour mixing concentrating on creating colours specifically related to the object they are painting

- to encourage children to apply the secondary, specific palettes, to their drawn images, concentrating on applying/mixing colours that are only represented in their specific composition. Special concentration will be placed on light and shadow as this was very specific to the work of Deirdre Walsh. Special light fixtures will be set up in the workshop to afford this specific effect, main light sources will be switched off and some natural light will be blocked out.

- to engage children in the different processes as outlined above and to move the concentration of the workshop away from a finished piece and from creating �the� perfect drawn or painted image.

Project Details

Location: Rural
From date: 2008-10-09
To date: 2008-11-03
Length: 4 weeks
Participants per session: 322
Participants in total: 20-30
Contact hours: 19.5
Age range of participants:
8-11, 5-7
County(ies):
Mayo
Related Organisation(s):
Linenhall Arts Centre
Funding Bodies:
FAS
Other Related Artists:
Marianne Heemskerk, Denise Clarke, Catherine Cronogue