Children and art
The Studio art exhibition will take place on November 2nd from 2 to 5.
Many people seem tothink that primary school children are not creating authentic art. I would like to change this narrative. From the earliest age, a child will grasp anything and as soon as they are able to make a mark with this on a piece of paper, they will. Children are born to explore, to see the world with fresh sight and to notice everything, no matter how small and mundane. Art is about ways of seeing and children come to the artistic process with an abundance of these present. Seldom, will a child struggle to enter into the art process. I have experienced the great joy of children of all ages , places and schooling types or philosophies, embrace the act of seeing, creating and enjoying art.
The art we practice at The Studio, is a classical observational art. At the heart of much of what we do is helping or allowing children to use their ways of seeing and exploring while creating. I try very hard NOT to interfere with this process but rather guide them through it.
I aslo try to balance the term with some imaginary or intuitive work as well as intriducing a variety of artists from around the world as well as South Africa.
This term we learnt about Paul Cezane with a focus on his still life work. We experienced clay, as well as stenciling and some process art work. I find process art extremely interesting. All children,no matter their age, emerce themselves in the process of printing with simple, everyday objects to create patterns. It was particularly satisfying to see these children, this year, spend a great deal of time hidden and emerced in this process.
Teen art
On Friday afternoon I run a teen art class. Please do join it if you are leaving for high school at the end of the year. This class started with one and then two committed artists and now has grown to a good size and a beautiful, funny group. In this group, they have greater freedom to explore and express. The theme for the two terms has been portraits. We learnt a great deal about what portrait art is and some of the history while looking at different artists along the way. The body of work is varied and wonderfully wacky. Please do spend time enjoying these young artists work too.
Family art
I have two family art groups where parents AND children create art alongside one another. This is a beautiful and carefree relaxed space for everyone to create and enjoy time together. We have enjoyed making art from the storybook , "The Dot" as a sourse of inspiration as well as looking at artist Imi Knoebel. These art classes intersect with the themes from the general classes aswell.
Homeschool art
On a Tuesday at 1:30, I have a delightful group of homeschooled children who dash into art and throw themselves into the art project.
Personal work
Many of you will know that I am involved with art on a Tuesday morning with a group of young people in Mictchells Plain. Many young people in our city and indeed in our coultry have no access to the arts in the way that schools in ;eafy suburbs offer. This is the legacy we live with as a country. I am privileged to share something of art with these wonderful young people and in return, they teach and share so much of life , with me.
Twice a year, I also have the great joy of running two art workshopd with grade 10 girls from an NGO programme called ISEEU. The theme is finding your voice and we spend the morningooking at the history of resistence and protest art in South Africa and then explore what issues could be expressed in the artwork they make. This is one of the highlights of my year.
Finally, I am pleased to announce my first exhibition of my own artwork to be held with fellow artist and friend, Mareliza Kirschbaum. Please see the invitation below and do pop in for a coffee and chat.
I look forward to sharing all our art with you in November.
Thank you for the joy of shring time and art with your child.
Please bring a plate of eats to share.
I do not want to share the artworks in THIS newsletter so as to keep all the beautiful work, a surprise.
Dates to diarise.
