VIDEO RESOURCE PACK
world of dreams
Mayfield Arts Centre and locations in Cork City Centre Art Encounter Summer 2005 - An International Exchange for Young People
MCAC ART ACTION TOOLBOX: World of Dreams Resource Pack
Theme: Millenium Development Goals and the Goals and Dreams of Young People
Background
Art Encounter 2005 was an artistic exchange which saw young artists from Cork, Nicaragua and Colombia living and working together in Cork for three weeks. Their work was exhibited to the public in Mayfield and in the City centre. The young people were encouraged to explore issues of equality, while sharing cultural experiences and working together on a public art project. They used painting, sculpture, photography and graffiti art to explore the dreams of young people all over the world and how these relate to the Millenium Development Goals. The young people had clear messages that they communicated in very innovative ways.
How to use this resource
Participating Organizations Deseartez Paz, Colombia http://issuu.com/mayfieldarts/docs/profile_desearte_paz
The aim of this resource pack is to help teachers, youth leaders and young people themselves to creatively explore the theme of ‘Our Dreams,’ especially in relation to the Millenium Development Goals. It has been developed from the wealth of art work and shared experiences from ‘Art Encounter 2005,’ and is designed to be used in conjunction with the video links.
Funarte, Nicaragua
The project itself was very much youth-led and we hope http://issuu.com/mayfieldarts/docs/profile_funarte this resource inspires young people to take their own initiative and develop their art skills in new and stimulating ways. We hope it will encourage young people to think about and discuss their dreams for the future, both for themselves and for the world.
Contents Section 1: Dream Project Section 2: Graffiti Section 3: Willow Sculpture
Mayfield Arts Newbury House http://issuu.com/mayfieldarts/docs/profile_mayfieldarts
Section 4: Pinhole Camera and Photo Collage Section 5: Mural The videos are divided into chapters which can be worked through in sequence or used individually according to the group’s interest. Each chapter in this resource contains ideas for discussion from the video as well as a related art activitiy. There are also website addresses for more information on the Millenium Goals and ideas for developing the art activities.
Contents
Ógra Chorcaí http://www.ograchorcai.org/
Art Activity Dream Diary The group had been keeping a notebook of dreams collected from asking other people about their dreams. Nora talks about the notebook that they kept of the dreams of all the people that they spoke to.
MCAC ART ACTION TOOLBOX: World of Dreams Resource Pack
Get the class to think about their own idividual dream for the future. Find a way to draw or illustrate this... You can use cuttings from magazines and print from newspapers to collage a page each for the notebook showing your dream. Once everyone has made a page for the notebook use simple bookmaking techniques to create the classes own ‘Dream Diary.’ For Bookmaking ideas see: www.makingbooks.com/projects or http://cailun.info
Dream Portraits Art Activity - Self Portraits Create your own collages using old photographsof yourself which you can enlarge
When the young people from Nicaragua, Colombia and Ireland came together in Cork they each created their own self-portrait. They talked about these with each other to get to know
and trace over. one another and share their dreams for If you have use of an overhead projector you can the world in the future. They thought trace over your photo onto acetate and then about how, if at all, their dreams relate enlarge it to whatever size you want by projecting to global goals. it and drawing over it. We used plastic as the background and stuck on layers of tissue paper, coloured plastic wrappers and drew over them with paint markers to give a stained glass effect. You could try this or else work on paper and collage with whatever materials you Check out this website for info on the Millennium Goals have available. www.un.org/millenniumgoals Discussion -Compare the images you hae made with the ones the young people on the -exchange made -Do you see any dreams you have in common? -What are the Millenium Goals? -Do you feel that any of the Millenium Goals are relevant to your llife? -Why or why not? Link to dream portrait video: youtube.com/watch?v=5aodksPyIZo&feature=player_embedded
Dream Project
Graffiti Art Art Encounter video of the graffiti art wrokshops: youtube.com/watch?v=tmFOQpSAsS8&feature=player_embedded
MCAC ART ACTION TOOLBOX: World of Dreams Resource Pack
Can you work out from the video what process the group used to create the graffiti images? 1. Take a digital photo or choose an image and scan into computer
3. Print out the image
OR EIT
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2. Open mage in Photoshop then...Resize, De-saturate, Filterartistic-cut out
Art Activity Stencils
4. Trace the image onto acetate. Stick a sheet of card onto a wall and use an overhead proejctor to project the image onto the card as big as you like and trace over the lines.
4. Stick image onto card
5. Cut out the black parts of the stencil, leaving bridges of card to hold parts in place that would otherwise become detached. (You can add them on afterwards with paper and tape if you cut a bit by mistake)
Following the instructions on this page and what you saw on the video, try creating your own stencil. Make sure that it is an image or slogan that portrays how you feel about something to do with the Millennium Goals or your dreams for the future. You cold have a go at creating a graffiti wall with all the stencils from your group. If you can’t use a wall, a panel of plywood works well and can be moved around to be displayed in different places. Prime it with a coat of white emulsion paint before you start. Remember....
Discussion
You can use simple images or make the stencil as complex as you have patience for. If you want to use more than -What is a slogan? one colour you will need to -What slogans did you see on the video? -One of them was ‘Solidarity is the way to peace.’ make more than one stencil. What do you think the artist meant by this? -’Due to recent cutbacks...’ What do you think the artist might have said next? -’The light at the end of the tunnel has just gone out.’ What do you think they meant? -Discuss the other slogans you saw on the video. -Can you think of a slogan to get across a message that you feel strongly about?
Graffiti
6.Tape the stencil onto a wall or board and spray. (Lightest colour first)
Willow The video of the Art Encounter project:
youtube.com/watch?v=Mc5WWjoq7lM&feature=player_embedded
MCAC ART ACTION TOOLBOX: World of Dreams Resource Pack
What kind of sculpture would you make?
What message would it convey to people who saw it?
Where would you like it to be located?
What materials would you use?
How would it suit its location?
Art Activity Sculpture
Think about the theme of equality and consider the questions above. Split into pairs and sketch designs for your sculpture, taking into account your answers to the above questions. Get into groups of six and decide on a final design for your sculpture. Before you start to build it, have a plan! Gather the materials and the tools you will need. Ideas for materials: Recycled objects such as cartons, cardboard, cans etc. Papier-mache Wood, Willow Wire, chicken wire Plaster or Cement Clay, and combinations of all the above
Discussion
-Can you work out from the video how the group came up with the idea for the willow sculpture? They individually sketched their ideas then came together as a group, pooled their ideas and decided on a final design. -What do you think it represents? The three figures represent the three countries working together to build a better world. -How did they make it? First they wove the willow to make the world. Then they bilt wooden frames for the figures. They fixed these in pots filled with earth and then planted the willow and wove it around the frames. -What difficulties do you think the group might have come across? Lots of people trying to work at the same time, communicating ideas through different languages, and making the frames strong enough. Willow Sculpture Technique Resource: http://issuu.com/mayfieldarts/docs/technique_willow
Willow Sculpture
Pinhole Photography The video of the Art Encounter project:
MCAC ART ACTION TOOLBOX: World of Dreams Resource Pack
youtube.com/watch?v=4mIcvMrCFFs&feature=player_embedded
Watch the video and discuss: -What were the cameras made out of? -What did Julian take off the front of the camera to take the photo? -What do they put the photo in to develop the image? The group in Colombia work a lot using pinhole cameras as they are cheap to make and so available for everyone. To make a basic pinhole camera... Take a small box e.g. a kids shoe box or a screw top tub and paint the inside and outside black. With a pin, make a tiny hole in one end of the shoebox and then cover it over with a piece of black duct tape. In a dark room, where all the windows are sealed with layers of black plastic bags so no light can get in, stick a piece of photography paper to the inside wall of the shoebox opposite the pinhole. You can buy red light bulbs to use in your dark room so that you can see what you are doing...these don’t affect the photography paper. Replace the lid and seal it with black tape. You will have to experiment how long to leave the pinhole open to get the best results, as this varies with the brightness of the day. Take your camera back into the dark room and remove the paper. To develop the picture you will need to dip it into three different solutions, developer, stopper and fixer. You can buy these at photography shops and they will be able to give you details about the length of time to leave the paper in each to get the best results.
Art Activity Photo Collage Make your own photo collage in groups or with the whole class. Choose a theme for the collage such as ‘Our Dreams’ or ‘Equality for Everyone.’ Collect images relevant to the theme from newspapers and magazines as well as using photos that you have taken. If you have access to a photocopier, you can photocopy images in black and white and enlarge or reduce them. These look good painted over or worked over with layers of chalks or pastels. Once you have all your images together you can paste them onto boards of plywood or M.D.F. using P.V.A. glue. P.V.A. also works well as a sealant to paint over the whole collage when finished. Useful link about how to make and use a pinhole camera:
http://www.kodak.com/eknec/PageQuerier.jhtml?pq-path=11865&pq-locale=en_US&_requestid=43610
Pinhole Camera & Photo Collage
Mural The video of the Art Encounter project:
youtube.com/watch?v=8TVwlbIvSpw&feature=player_embed
MCAC ART ACTION TOOLBOX: World of Dreams Resource Pack
Discussion
Watch the video and see how the mural was painted. -What was done to make sure the design of the mural suited where it was going to be painted? Ideas for the design were drawn on photocopies of the wall. -How did they draw it up onto the wall? The black and white design was projected onto the wall at night and they drew over the lines. -How do you think everyone knew which colour to paint where on the wall? Before they started painting, they all coloured in a scale drawing of the design and used this to refer to when painting on the wall. -What might you have found difficult in painting the mural and what do you think you would have enjoyed about doing it? -What message do you think they were trying to get across with the mural?
Art Activity Mural Painting Why paint a mural? Murals have been painted in Nicaragua for many years as creative ways of drawing people’s attention to important social issues such as Children’s Rights. They are a way to express opinions , to make changes, and for young people to see their work recognised and valued.
Painting a Mural Factors to consider when choosing a wall for a mural: Size, shape, architectural details, the amount of time available. Measure the wall and make drawings showing architectural details such as windows, doors etc.
Theme Where possible allow the group to decide on the theme themselves. Discuss the theme of the mural with the group. Research the theme using stories, poetry, drawings, books, photographs, case studies, role plays etc. Use poster paint or drawing materials for the group to respond to the theme and paint their individual ideas or relevant images.
Mural
Mural
MCAC ART ACTION TOOLBOX: World of Dreams Resource Pack
Designing the Mural Using the group’s painting’s and with their participation, do any one of the following: -Photocopy the group’s drawings, cut them out and then arrange them on a photocopy of the scale drawing of the wall. -Do an abstract design on a photocopy of the scale drawing of the wall that incorporates the group’s drawings. -As a group agree on a design based on the individual images. Draw the final design to scale and photocopy in black and white. Make two copies, one to be painted as a color study of the mural, which is then used as a guide for the mural painters. The other black and white copy is used to draw a grid on.
Preparing the Wall Fill in any major cracks or crevices on the wall...don’t worry about some texture. All walls should be washed with water and bleach and then given a coat of transparent acryclic sealer. Masks and gloves should be used when applying the sealer as it is toxic. This is a job for adults. Paint the wall with a base coast of white paint. If a wall is not available a mural can be painted onto pane’s of weather bonded plywood and then sealed with yacht varnish once painted.
Drawing the Design on the Wall There are two ways of drawing the design up onto the wall. You can either use the copy of the design with a grid drawn on it and draw a grid to scale on the wall. The design is then copied square by square onto the wall using the grid for reference. Or you can do as we did and use a projector to project the black and white design onto the wall. The group can then chalk over the lines as they are projected onto the wall.
Painting the Mural Using the color study as a guide, begin painting from the top, with very diluted acrylic paint and very large brushes. Paint in all the large background areas with very thin coats of color, without details. once all the mural is painted with color the next step is to select and paint the figures and areas which need more contrast, volume, color or details. It is important to sue the color design as a guide. It is advisable to put a coast of acrylic sealer or varnish over the finished mural, which both protects the mural and brings out its colors. You must use gloves and masks when applying the sealer, better done by adults as the sealer is toxic.
Mural
Materials for a Mural
-Large sheets of paper or end rolls from a newspaper, for the participants to paint their ideas. -Poster paint, the three primary colours plus black and white, for working on paper. -Brushes, 2.5,4,5,6 and 10cm for working on paper and the wall. -Palettes, can be plastic plates, for mixing colours -Water containers -Acrylic paint in the three primary colours and black and white -Camera or video, to record and document the process -Access to a photocopier, colour if possible -Access to books, photos, to use as source material for images -Scaffolding, tables or benches -Acryclic sealer or varnish -Insurance, if possible, for the adults and children -Tape measure -Pots for paint -Masking tape -Old big t-shirts -Masks and gloves -Rags -Chalk
MCAC ART ACTION TOOLBOX: World of Dreams Resource Pack
We learned many things including, about culture, tolerance and sharing with others.
quotes from par ticipants
I felt it was equally youth lead and adult led, we all had fun and enjoyed ourselves
Resource Pack compiled by Karen Webster at Mayfield Community Arts Centre Video by Ailbhe NĂ Bhriain with Project Participants Thanks to funders:
TROCAIRE IRISH AID CORK, EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF CULTURE 2005