Wall hangings, weaving, macrame
Some of us practiced macrame knotting to create decorative wall hangings. We learned how to create square knots, spiral knots and apply weaving techniques to our pieces
The Art of Huichol Beading
We learned about the Huichol peoples in Mexico and some of their beliefs and practices to honor nature and the spirit world. We learned about the role of the shaman, as messenger between the spirit and human world. After looking at important figures in Huichol life, such as the deer, eagle, corn and cactus, we […]
Stitching Japanese Sachiko Panels
We learned about Sashiko embroidery, a Japanese stitching method historically used by people who could not afford new clothing and would use stitching to strengthen broken fabric. Traditionally, sashiko-stitched symbols have also been used to give talismanic protection to the wearer. After tracing our selected patterns onto fabric, we learned to use a continuous line […]
Shinto beliefs, traditions and Torii gates
We travelled to Japan, where we encountered the rich traditions and beliefs of the Shinto religion. We learned about Shinto’s deep reverence for nature, and the belief in benevolent kami spirits which are venerated throughout Japan with shrines and yorishiro (objects used to invite benevolent kami spirits into a space). We examined some rituals that […]
The Scribes of Egypt and the Book of the Dead
We learned about ancient Egyptian scribes, their tools, and their important role in documenting what we now know of ancient Egypt. After investigating the step-by-step process by which the papyrus plant becomes usable as a writing surface, we used actual papyrus to practice composing our own sentences using Egyptian hieroglyphs. In addition, we learned about […]
Haudenosaunee Pottery
We learned about the Haudenosaunee, a federation of five Indigenous tribes (the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscarora people) in what is now Upstate and Western New York. They are often known by the French appellation ‘Iroquois’. We learned about the concepts of autonyms and exonyms, which are names that people give to themselves […]
Creating natural inks and watercolor paints
Using mortars and pestles, we ground up rocks, lapis lazuli gemstones, shell, charcoal and other hard natural elements to create natural inks and watercolour paints. We used palette knives to mix these ground up pigments with a natural binder used during Renaissance times– made from egg whites, honey, gum arabic, and clove oil. After we […]
Art inspired by Jordanian solar tents
We turned our attention to another Jordanian project: Jordanian-Canadian designer Abeer Seikaly has developed an innovative solar tent for refugees. The tent’s design allows for rainwater collection, solar power generation, solar water heating for showers, ventilation during hot weather, and insulation during cold weather. The tent is made from light-weight “structural fabric” that is designed […]
Making Balinese Shadow Puppets
We learned about the battle between good and evil told through the popular Balinese story of the characters, Barong, the king of the good spirits, and the witch queen, Rangda. We examined some Balinese carved wooden masks of Barong and Rangda and discussed their fearsome appearance as depicted by Balinese artists. We saw similarly fearsome […]
Learning about Andy Goldsworthy’s Art
One of our favorite artists, Andy Goldsworthy, also lives in Scotland. We took a look at some of his work using natural materials as inspiration for our own creations. We split into two teams and came up with some natural arrangements, making sure to use only elements from nature. The kids made a realization that […]