We Love the Arts
Multimodal Learning in the Arts at Arts Etobicoke
April 23 - May 28, 2016
Ksenia, Tijana and Claudia facilitated 6 sessions of multimodal arts education; dedicated to expanding the imagination. Children enjoyed creating stories through performance, music and visual arts. They shared these stories in the Gallery of Arts Etobicoke, in the community of Islington Village and in local green spaces. The sessions culminated with a presentation by the participants of their work followed by refreshments.
Participants dived into their imaginations with the Exploring Creativity in Depth™ program and created unique pastel drawings. They then ventured into the Islington Village community to absorb different sights, smells and sounds. Back at Arts Etobicoke, participants created a second pastel drawing based on their experiences outdoors and built a soundscape together.
Every session began with a visual journal. Participants were invited to cover a large sheet of kraft paper with markers, ribbons and feathers, which served to document their thoughts and creativity throughout the program. The visual journal was a favourite amongst participants. They often worked together to create sculptures to accompany their journal drawings.
Participants took turns modeling an action while their peers swiftly sketched the gestures with charcoal. They then combined their sketches to build a sequence of actions, which they performed as a group. Participants were taken on a tour of Islington Village where they reflected on the community’s murals and the stories the paintings illustrate. Back in the Gallery of Arts Etobicoke, they combined their pastel pictures to develop a story of their own.
The final sessions took place at Montgomery’s Inn and in surrounding green spaces. Participants were guided on a discovery walk around Butterfly Garden where they searched for and collected small objects along the way. They brought back sticks, leaves and flowers, which they incorporated into their clay sculptures. Later, participants were asked to find a home for their sculptures amongst park grounds. In small groups, they travelled to the various ‘homes’ and shared stories of their sculptures.
Participants performed their collective story in front of family and friends at Montgomery’s Inn. Their pastel pictures were hung between two trees, which served as a backdrop to their sculptures. Participants then stood at different points along the rope to recount a piece of the story.
Every session began with a visual journal. Participants were invited to cover a large sheet of kraft paper with markers, ribbons and feathers, which served to document their thoughts and creativity throughout the program. The visual journal was a favourite amongst participants. They often worked together to create sculptures to accompany their journal drawings.
Participants took turns modeling an action while their peers swiftly sketched the gestures with charcoal. They then combined their sketches to build a sequence of actions, which they performed as a group. Participants were taken on a tour of Islington Village where they reflected on the community’s murals and the stories the paintings illustrate. Back in the Gallery of Arts Etobicoke, they combined their pastel pictures to develop a story of their own.
The final sessions took place at Montgomery’s Inn and in surrounding green spaces. Participants were guided on a discovery walk around Butterfly Garden where they searched for and collected small objects along the way. They brought back sticks, leaves and flowers, which they incorporated into their clay sculptures. Later, participants were asked to find a home for their sculptures amongst park grounds. In small groups, they travelled to the various ‘homes’ and shared stories of their sculptures.
Participants performed their collective story in front of family and friends at Montgomery’s Inn. Their pastel pictures were hung between two trees, which served as a backdrop to their sculptures. Participants then stood at different points along the rope to recount a piece of the story.