North Queensland’s Sculpture Festival | Part of the North Australian Festival of Arts
Education Kit
SPONSORED BY
Strand Ephemera 2019 - Education Kit
Townsville City Council acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of Townsville – the Wulgurukaba of Gurambilbarra and Yunbenun; and Bindal people. We pay our respects to their cultures, their ancestors and their Elders – past and present – and all future generations. Turtle Tracks © Jordan Wyles 2019
Strand Ephemera 2019 - Education Kit
Strand Ephemera Map A copy of the map can be collected from Info Desks along The Strand during Strand Ephemera, or found on strandephemera.com ter Wa
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Strand Ephemera 2019 - Education Kit
MONO
PUBLISHER Townsville City Galleries PO Box 1268, Townsville Queensland, 4810 Australia (07) 4727 9011 townsville.qld.gov.au
FINANCIAL SPONSORS
©Townsville City Council 2019 The images contained in this book are copyright the artists. All photography credited as known.
COLOUR
PUBLISHED ON THE OCCASION OF
FINANCIALSculpture SPONSORS North Queensland’s Festival Part of the North Australian Festival of Arts
F I NANCI AL SPONSOR S
Turtle Tracks © Jordan Wyles 2019 CONTACT
Perc Tucker Regional Gallery Cnr. Denham and Flinders St Townsville QLD 4810 Mon - Fri: 10am - 5pm Sat - Sun: 10am - 2pm (07) 4727 9011 ptrg@townsville.qld.gov.au MEDIA SPONSORS whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au Townsville City Galleries
MEDIA MEDI A SPONSORS SPONSOR S
STRANDEPHEMERA.COM.AU #STRANDEPHEMERA IN-KIND SPONSORS
I N-K I ND SPONSORS SPONSOR S IN-KIND
ED U CAT IO N K I T SP O NSO R
NORTH AUSTRALIAN FESTIVAL OF ARTS - iv -
Strand Ephemera 2019 - Education Kit
Contents About Strand Ephemera and this book
1
Photography
8
Sea Turtle Hatchlings
11
Interactives on The Strand
13
#storyfridges and Artwork Adjectives
17
Symbols in Artwork
19
The Pacific
20
Thongaphone
23
Patterns in the Sand and Sugar
24
Representation in Numbers
26
Positive and Negative Space
28
Artistic Trades
29
Differing Dimensions
30
Art vs Craft
31
Metaphors
32
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Strand Ephemera 2019 - Education Kit
How to use this book This book contains activities you can do before your visit, during your visit, and back at school.
BLUE sections are to read before you explore The Strand
GREEN sections are to work through while you’re on The Strand
YELLOW sections are to complete back at school after your visit
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Strand Ephemera 2019 - Education Kit
What is Strand Ephemera? Strand Ephemera is a festival of ephemeral sculptures. This festival happens every two years on The Strand, in Townsville, Queensland, Australia.
What does 'ephemera' mean? ‘Ephemera’ refers to things that only last for a short time. When you look at the work on display, think about the materials used. How long will they last? Will they change over time? What makes each artwork ephemeral?
Discuss the difference between sculpture and installation art. Although they are both three dimensional art forms, the line between sculpture and installation art can sometimes be blurry. Installation art builds on sculpture by transforming the perception of the space.
Bruce Reynolds Wing Defence Plaster, steel mesh, formply 260 x 260 x 100 cm Image courtesy the artist
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Strand Ephemera 2019 - Education Kit
Jordan Wyles Local artist Jordan Wyles created the artwork Turtle Tracks which has been used throughout Strand Ephemera 2019 materials. You will find Jordan’s designs throughout this Education Kit.
About the Artist I have lived in Townsville my whole life and am a proud Aboriginal artist. I am from the Traditional Owners of Townsville and Magnetic Island; Wulgurukaba People. The Wulgurukaba people call their country “Gurrumbilbarra”, Wulgurukaba means “canoe people”. The artworks I create draw heavily from my cultural identity. There is a strong connection to the animals and plants which are native to the local area; animals created within my artwork are often the totems for the local people. It is always considered appropriate and respectful to talk with Traditional Custodians and/or Elders prior to painting artwork to ensure the correct permissions have been obtained. Inspiration for my artwork also comes to me through the traditional or dreaming stories that have been shared through the community over the years. Traditional patterns and designs that I have painted throughout my artwork are patterns and colours that surround us all every day in nature. I enjoy painting using traditional Aboriginal artwork techniques, some of the techniques I love to use are; • x-ray technique • cross hatching • herringbone and • spray technique The colour palette that I generally use is traditional and keeps to colours that would have been used in ancient times such as ochre, white, yellow and reds. I would define my “style” as traditional and enjoy sharing my artwork and the stories with others. I love painting and drawing on many scales but specialise in creating artworks on canvases.
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Strand Ephemera 2019 - Education Kit
Original artwork designed by Jordan Wyles, 2019 (digital reproduction) -4-
Strand Ephemera 2019 - Education Kit
Investigating Sculpture While investigating sculptures, keep in mind:
What does the artwork look like? • Colour • Surface • Texture • Display How is the artwork positioned? How are viewers encouraged to interact with the artwork? • Scale/size How big or small is the artwork? How does the sculpture sit in the space?
How was the artwork made? • Materials Can you identify what the artwork is made of? • Construction technique & process What trades or skills would be useful in creating this artwork? How long do you think it would’ve taken to make this artwork? If you were going to make an artwork like this, what would your first step be?
What is the artwork about? • Subject What is this artwork depicting, referencing, and/or exploring? • Meaning and message What does the artwork say to you? • Context Does this artwork have a relationship with The Strand?
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Strand Ephemera 2019 - Education Kit
Choose an artwork on display and investigate in the space provided.
Artwork title:
What does the artwork look like?
How was the artwork made?
What is the artwork about?
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Strand Ephemera 2019 - Education Kit
Ephemeral Materials Something that is ephemeral only lasts for a short time.
Think about the following materials and place them on the timeline below in order of how long you think they might last: Plastic cup
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TV
Bronze coin
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Sandstone staircase Car Mobile phone
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Woolly jumper |
2019
2020
2050
4000
8000
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Sandwich
Stainless steel cheese grater |
T-shirt
Strand Ephemera 2019 - Education Kit
Photography Rule of Thirds
When you start experimenting with photography, the Rule of Thirds is a good place to begin. Your eye will tend to rest at the intersection of the horizontal and vertical thirds. This means that if you compose your photograph carefully, positioning important features at one or more of those intersections, your photograph should look more balanced. Have a go sketching out a balanced photo in the empty grid below.
Performers on The Pink Piano during Strand Ephemera 2017.
Get Snapping Snap a couple photos on The Strand, keeping in mind the Rule of Thirds.
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Strand Ephemera 2019 - Education Kit
Dynamic Symmetry Grids Like the Rule of Thirds, Dynamic Symmetry invites you to look at the intersections of lines to develop a well-balanced image. There are lots of different dynamic symmetry grids. Consider the grid below. While you would not want something on every single intersection, if you place significant features at a few of the intersections, it should help you build a more balanced photo.
Erica Gray Visceral Bodies, Winner of the Award for Artistic Excellence Strand Ephemera 2017. Detail of photograph by John de Rooy Photography
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Strand Ephemera 2019 - Education Kit
Photographic Competition If you take photos on The Strand during Strand Ephemera 2019, you can submit your favourite to the photographic competition.
Categories: • Under 18 years • 18 years and older
How to enter: Submit your entry via the Strand Ephemera website strandephemera.com.au Entries close: Friday 9 August 2019
Winner of the 18+ category of the Strand Ephemera 2017 Photographic Competition: Wade Howlett’s photograph of Carla Gottgens’s Portal
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Winner of the under 18 category of the Strand Ephemera 2017 Photographic Competition: Kai Wilson’s photograph of Vanessa Stanley’s Your Altered Gaze Returned
Strand Ephemera 2019 - Education Kit
Sea Turtle Hatchlings Townsville Primary School Students with Cass Roberts and Cassie Harris This artwork is a result of the Art In A Suitcase program, which is delivered in a suitcase to primary schools by artists with Townsville City Galleries. Sea Turtle Hatchlings is a large installation of about one thousand hatchlings from paper based air dry clay. Why do you think sea turtle hatchlings were chosen for the subject of this artwork? Why do you think this material was used?
Sea turtle species can often be identified by the patterns on their shells. Take some time to research different species and sketch the variations of their shells below.
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Strand Ephemera 2019 - Education Kit
Sea Turtle Hatchlings There are seven species of sea turtle in the world; six are found in the Great Barrier Reef. The Flatback sea turtle is particularly special because it only nests on northern Australian beaches. Some sea turtles nest on The Strand, which is a lucky sight as it is estimated that only one in a thousand sea turtle hatchlings survive to reproduce. Below are some threats facing our turtles today:
Threats
What you can do to minimise the risk
Boat strike (being struck by a boat)
Slow down when boating, especially in areas where you know there are turtles
Fishing hooks, getting tangled in fishing nets
Fish responsibly, take all of your equipment away with you
Eating rubbish, or getting ensnared in rubbish
Put your rubbish in the bin. Safely pick up any rubbish you see and put it in the bin
Eating plastic bags (they look like jellyfish!)
Use reusable bags instead of plastic bags
Getting confused and wandering onto the road
Turtles are attracted to light, so avoid having lights near turtle hatching areas
People disturbing turtle nesting grounds; this might include dogs digging up nests, people trampling the area, or people camping in the wrong spot
Talk to your friends and family about turtles and help them understand what they can do to help look after turtles
Think about what you can do to help sea turtle survival. Talk with your family and friends to see what positive changes you might make. If you see a sea turtle in trouble, you can help by ringing 1300 ANIMAL (1300 264 625)
THESE TWO PAGES CONTRIBUTED BY
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Strand Ephemera 2019 - Education Kit
Photo Frames Take some photographs on The Strand! Photography There are a number of interactive elements along The Strand as a part of Strand Ephemera! Take some time to capture the moment at the interactive photo frames. Will you choose to photograph the landscape, an artwork, or maybe a friend?
Did you chose to photograph an artwork? If so, consider entering the Strand Ephemera Photo Competition! Details at strandephemera.com.au Want to share your photo on social media? Use #StrandEphemera
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Strand Ephemera 2019 - Education Kit
Sketch a few of the view, or maybe some portraits, on The Strand in the empty frames.
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Strand Ephemera 2019 - Education Kit
Drawing Grids Artists often use drawing grids to improve accuracy and to help sketch in proportion. Archaeologists also use drawing grids to help accurately record the location and details of artefacts. Astronauts use grids to map out the surfaces of planets and moons. Locate the Drawing Grids on The Strand. Take your time to sketch the view, square by square, into the grids provided.
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Strand Ephemera 2019 - Education Kit
Have a go drawing the views at different grids along The Strand.
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Strand Ephemera 2019 - Education Kit
Story Fridges Fiona Quin
Share your stories on the #storyfridges #StrandEphemera Think about the importance of social media in contemporary art. Why do you think this artist has used hashtags with their artwork?
Compare and contrast the process of story writing at a typewriter versus using the magnets on the Story Fridges.
Share your stories... #storyfridges
Share your thoughts below:
d
diamon
para
dise
you
dazzle
me
with your brilliant
smile
elabo
rate
s
y ymphon
Fiona Quin Story Fridges, Refrigerators, magnets, wood, paper, plastic, acrylic paint, dimensions variable
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Strand Ephemera 2019 - Education Kit
Artwork Adjectives Choose an artwork on The Strand. Write down some words that describe the artwork. Write down as many as you can think of in two minutes.
Haiku is a form of Japanese poetry that relies on syllables for its poetic structure. Count the syllables in each of your descriptive words. Write a haiku by choosing words to fit the structure below: First line: 5 syllables Second line: 7 syllables Last line: 5 syllables If you speak a different language at home, you can do this activity in your home language.
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Strand Ephemera 2019 - Education Kit
Incarcerate! Jan Hynes
Artists often incorporate symbols into their artworks. These symbols convey meaning to the viewer. Have a look around The Strand. What symbols can you see? These may be in artworks, Strand signage, restaurants, and more. Sketch the different types of symbols you can see below:
Discuss the use of symbols in the following contexts: Brands
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Renaissance Art
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Social Media
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Emergencies
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Activism
Strand Ephemera 2019 - Education Kit
The Pacific Townsville is home to people from many different places, including islands in The Pacific. Do you know anyone with family members living in The Pacific? Have you visited any of these areas?
How many places can you identify on the map below? Mexico
Mariana Islands
2 MICRONESIA
POLYNESIA
Marshall Islands
Palau
Christmas Island
Kiribati
Papua New Guinea
Solomon Islands
Tuvalu Tokelau
Santa Cruz
MELANESIA
6
Vanuatu
Tonga
4
1
New Caledonia
Australia
French Polynesia
5
Rapa Nui (Easter Island) Kermadec Islands
Chatham Islands
3
New Zealand
1:
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Samoa
|
Cook Islands
2:
3: 4:
5:
6: - 20 -
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Hawaii
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Fiji
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Tahiti
Strand Ephemera 2019 - Education Kit
Languages in the Pacific Look at the words for bird and star in different Pacific languages. Can you see that these languages are related?
Tongan
Samoan
Tahitian
Māori
Hawaiian
manu
manu
manu
manu
manu
fetu’u
fetu
fetia
whetū
hōkū
The Language, the Wind and the Tides Toni Rogers
People have been sailing around the Pacific Ocean for thousands of years. As people travel, they take their art and their languages with them.
Toni Rogers, The Language, the Wind and the Tides, 150 painted coconuts with Pacific designs. Dimensions variable. Photograph: Andrew Rankin Photography
Why do you think the artist has chosen coconuts as a material for their artwork?
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Strand Ephemera 2019 - Education Kit
Pacific Patterns Patterns are used as a way to communicate information and lots of patterns have specific meanings. Throughout the Pacific, patterns are used in painting, carving, and tattooing and are often inspired by the natural world. Research patterns from different parts of the Pacific. Can you see where the inspiration for the pattern comes from in the natural world?
Create your own patterns and symbols in the box below. Think about what meaning you would like to convey.
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Strand Ephemera 2019 - Education Kit
Thongaphone How does a thongophone make sound? When you slap a pipe, the air in it vibrates at a rate that matches the pipe’s ‘natural’ vibration rate. Long pipes have slow natural vibration rates, giving low sounds. In short pipes, the air vibrates more quickly and makes higher-pitched sounds. These pipes were cut to lengths that give the notes of a musical scale, like a piano. We hear a different sound from each pipe because hitting the pipes causes the air to vibrate and produce different sounds through different lengths of pipes.
How can we use our senses to explore and test new ideas? Play with sound as you create music with Thongaphone. Here are some tunes to get you started. Can you recognise them?
B
A
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A
A
B
A
B
B
B
C
C
G
G
a
a
G
A
F
F
E
E
D
D
C
D
D
G
G
F
F
E
E
D
B
A
g
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B
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G
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F
F
E
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D
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C
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F
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E
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D
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C
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Follow your curiosity and bring out your inner scientist with Thongaphone and other exciting interactives in Sciencentre at Museum of Tropical Queensland.
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Strand Ephemera 2019 - Education Kit
Sweet Barrier Reef Ken + Julia Yonetani
This artwork was developed in collaboration with scientists at the Australian Institute of Marine Science in Townsville, and variations of this work have been shown in major galleries in Australia and overseas. This is the first time this work has been constructed for display in Queensland. What does the ephemeral nature of the material used bring to the artwork? How might this artwork be affected by it’s surroundings on The Strand?
Ken + Julia Yonetani, Sweet Barrier Reef, Campbelltown Arts Centre, Sydney, 2010.
Sweet Barrier Reef investigates the relationship between industry and the environment. Take some time to explore the significance of the artwork and its location.
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Strand Ephemera 2019 - Education Kit
Patterns in the Sand As a group, use the rakes and stamps provided at Strand Park Beach to create a large scale design in the sand. Consider whether you would like to include your footprints in the design. Take a photo of your finished design and share with #StrandEphemera. Don’t have a camera? Sketch your completed design below:
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Strand Ephemera 2019 - Education Kit
16,615
Sharon Goodwin This artwork represents the number of days the artist has been alive. Each day the artwork is on display, the number will increase to accurately reflect the artist’s age. How is this artwork especially ephemeral? This sculpture consists of two dimensional parts. What makes it a three dimensional artwork?
Sharon Goodwin, 16,615, Painted marine ply, 15 pieces; dimensions variable, approx. 200 x 240 cm each
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Strand Ephemera 2019 - Education Kit
Counting the days Are you able to figure out the artist's birthday just from knowing how many days she has been alive? Why or why not?
Can you calculate how many days you have been alive? Have you passed 5,000 days? How did you calculate your age in days?
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Strand Ephemera 2019 - Education Kit
Future Astronomers Illuminated William Ross State High School
This artwork focuses on viewing constellations. When you look up at the stars, you are looking at positive and negative space.
William Ross State High School Future Astronomers Illuminated Metal, wood, acrylic, solar light circuitry, fabric 300 x 500 x 500 cm Photograph: Andrew Rankin Photography
Have a look at M. C. Escher’s artwork to the right and how elements of the image change in positive verses negative space.
M. C. Escher Sky and Water I 1938 Woodcut print 43.5 Ă— 43.9 cm
Indigenous Australian cultures have long had complex knowledge of the stars. In some cases, it is the dark spaces that have names, rather than the bright spaces. Do some research to find out more about Indigenous astronomy.
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Strand Ephemera 2019 - Education Kit
Fluid Air
John Nesirky There are lots of different ways to become an artist. Can you see how Nesirky has used his skills as a boat builder to create a unique kinetic sculpture? Design your own moving sculpture in the box below.
John Nesirky, Fluid Air, Laminated timber, marine ply, silk, brass, copper, leather and copper fastenings, 450 x 90 x 230 cm. Photograph: Andrew Rankin Photography
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Strand Ephemera 2019 - Education Kit
Rectangular Composition Tijn Meulendijks This artist has created a rectangular prism out of plant materials. Do you think this would be easy or difficult to do? Why, or why not?
Tijn Meulendijks Rectangular Composition Plant Material, Hyptis suaveolens (bush mint) Dimensions variable, approx. 75 x 120 x 360 cm
Can you transform these 2D shapes into 3D in the space below? Take some time to add tone to your 3D shapes. 2D Shape
3D Shape
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3D Shape with tone
Strand Ephemera 2019 - Education Kit
Tangental Growth Victoria Lees
There are many forms of textile art, most of which have their origins in traditional handcrafts such as weaving, sewing, and knitting. Many of these handcrafts were created almost exclusively by women, and are often thought of as craft rather than art. Contemporary textile artists challenge these assumptions by presenting textiles in new ways. This artwork takes the traditional handcraft of crochet to create a large scale installation piece. The long crocheted funnels of this artwork mimic the dangling roots of the fig trees. 
Victoria Lees Tangental Growth Crocheted acrylic wool, fishing line
Is there a difference between art and craft? How would you define both terms?
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Strand Ephemera 2019 - Education Kit
All Voyagers Carla Gottgens This artwork is about journeys through life and how sometimes these journeys are smooth while other times they are rough. Have a look at the artworks floating on the water. How are boats and water a metaphor for life in this artwork?
Carla Gottgens, All Voyagers, Hand-folded digitally printed spunbonded olefin fibre. Multiple pieces; 20 x 35 x 18 cm each. Image courtesy of the Artist.
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Strand Ephemera 2019 - Education Kit
How to fold a paper boat Fold your own boat with any A4 sheet of paper or use the back cover of this book!
1. Start with an A4 sheet of paper and fold in half lengthwise. Now unfold to make a center crease guide.
2. Now ‘mountain’ fold the sheet in half (and don’t unfold).
3. Fold the top corners in to touch the center crease.
4. Fold up the paper edges on either side of the triangles to make a ‘hat’ shape.
5. Open up the inside of the ‘hat’ and flatten the ‘hat’ so that it is a now a ‘diamond’.
6. Fold the bottom corners of the ‘diamond’ up to touch the top front and back corners.
7. Similar to step 5, open up the triangle and flatten it so it is a ‘diamond’. Flatten so that the sides are now the front.
8. Pull the top flaps outward like you are opening a ‘flower’.
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9. Flatten the fold and open the final shape of your boat!
Strand Ephemera 2019 - Education Kit
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Strand Ephemera 2019 - Education Kit
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