Over the next week I will be leaving my Art classes in the capable hands of replacement teachers Sharon and Tess and venturing across the Pacific Ocean to Fiji. My sister Cheryl has been teaching Early Childhood educators there for almost two years and this will be my first visit. I look forward to soaking up the culture and delightful art and craft work of the Fijian people. I hope to take a lot of photos for this Blog and to inspire next Semester’s work on the Art and Crafts of the Pacific region.
This photo is of a table mat which Cheryl gave me featuring the detailed printed pattern work typically done in Fiji.
Monthly Archives: October 2010
That’s Folk Art Folks
Over the last few days our Visual Arts Blog has been receiving more visitors than ever and our students are becoming very excited to think that in our small corner of the World we are a tiny but significant part of the gigantic World of Learning. There is nothing like watching our students’ faces as our Revolver map lights up with an overseas visitor’s flag , city and country,
Today my photographs are of European folk art from the Ukraine. The Babushka doll and spoons are so colourful and look so cheerful. Our hope is that they brighten up the day of many learners across the globe.
Iris Time – A Tribute to Kyri
The Japanese Garden
Last Semester we looked at the art of Asia and the noted the way in which Japanese gardens are set out and are featured on their beautiful painted wall scrolls. I took this photo (through a window) at a delightful Melbourne home last Saturday. I wanted to capture the tranquility of the garden for our Grade 3 and 4 students. The plant with the orange flowers is an Azalea and the tall water plants with yellow flowers on the right are Water Irises. The orange fish looks like a Koi. I hope that the message of peace is passed on by this photograph. For those who enjoy a challenge, how many fish can you find?
What’s a Squiggle?
Wikipedia tells us “A squiggle can be a random shape, or a drawing.” Yesterday our Grade 2 HB students tried drawing animals from my “Squiggle” starting points. I quickly added four interesting lines (mostly curves, zig zags and curls) using thick black marker and the students were challenged to create four animals using my lines as starting points for their pictures. Jake wrote me some notes to accompany his animals just in case I needed help with their identification. I have added his notes unedited as I was pleased with his spontaneous gesture. Squiggles are great to try on wet days, on scrap paper, blackboards, whiteboards or on the Magna Doodle . We have also been having a lot of fun with the drawing program Drips. Why not give a Squiggle a try?
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It’s Spring Down Under
We are having some beautiful Spring weather here in Victoria, Australia. The countryside looks the best it has been in ten years. These photographs were taken at Buller Winery in Rutherglen, Northern Victoria, last Sunday. We hope that they will brighten your day.