Post 12
With mother’s day approaching we needed something special for the art studio activities…my last big creative splash…still with no budget…hmmmmm…back to research.
I found a picture frame that with a few modifications I transformed into a three fold double sided mothers day card and picture frame in one. This card/frame could be decorated, and you could add your own photo. I made up a template that was photocopied on to A3 cartridge weight paper, that we were given from the council print shop. I also made up an instruction sheet for this activity. This activity was impressive!
Then, there was the paper flower on a stem, the stem being a promotional pencil that had been printed as a giveaway for a previous exhibition. My original prototype was made with a pin board pin. This was quickly abandoned as it was unsafe for kids, until I found some child safe wire in the art studio. I made a petal and leaf template and cut out many different coloured petals and leaves for the kids to construct bunches of flowers for their mum. Can you see the samples on the education managers desk among all her other bingie bits?
So sad to have to say goodbye, but it has been a wonderful experience. I started this internship without any understanding of education and public programs, and now see not just the relevance but I am left wondering if curators and educators should work closer together for both professionals to maximise the potential in delivery of the cultural experience - that is in the presentation, interpretation and education of fine art.
That's an interesting point that you made about the collaboration between curators and educators. I've noticed that in a lot of (larger) museums and galleries, there seems to be a greater push for education and children focused activities because essentially they're building up their next audience. However, many of these programs are directed to younger audiences (primary school and under) which is great because it actually engages their parents as well. Museums and Gallerys I think are moving towards a multifaceted approach to cater to the different audiences - I mean with such a range of people from different demographics you need to have those considerations of what they want, also they're tapping into the new technologies and social media that connect people to different events and encourage the visibility of the institution: Facebook, twitter and even blogs!
ReplyDeleteI am not up on facebook, twitter and blogs as far as their impact on art institution visibility or even commercial galleries audience development goes. Do you think it makes a difference, or are we just having the same conversations via keyboards instead of phone? I personally just don't have the time in the day to follow every thing. For me it is information overload, and repetition, and a lot of words about nothing most of the time.
ReplyDeleteLove the flowers activity Kathie. I do agree about the need for strong links between the curatorial work and the education work - I do think that in smaller places this is less of a problem.
ReplyDeleteI am with you on the twitter and blogging thing...in my experience blogs aren't really read unless you personally know the person and therefore a institutional blog never really works.