Art Exhibition
Every child is an artist; the problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up – Pablo Picasso
On Friday, 10th May 2019, there was a rare opportunity to enjoy our first-ever art exhibition, featuring the artwork of every child in the school. All parents and friends of the school were invited to admire the amazing work that the children had created over weeks, under the guidance of their teachers and Mrs. Amy Burns. By 5.00pm, the library had been transformed into an Art Gallery and the exhibition was under way.
Except for Sankofa, each class was inspired by particular artists and had spent time researching the artists’ lives, inspiration and techniques. Some of the creative works on display were a mix of collage, drawings and paintings.
Sankofa made paper plate trees of life, collage, sponge paintings, paper plate pizzas, dot paintings, migrating monarch butterflies, crowns, salt dough magic keys and rainbow fish. Art in Sankofa supports the development and learning of children through a number of modes, such as improving fine and gross motor coordination skills, and control and manipulation of a variety of tools. Movement and creativity, as well as coordination of phonic sounds, are also an integral part of our art world. Language patterns, Science an understanding of the world are also discovered and reinforced through our many art activities.
Nkyinkyim was inspired by Pablo Picasso to make cubism faces using card board and different colours of tempera paint. They also made mixed media hot-air balloons from sugar paper, felt, white paper, pastels and water colours.
Gye Nyame reproduced art from Pablo Picasso (two faces of a girl), Henri Matisse (The cat with red fish), Vincent van Gogh and René Magritte (The Pilgrim). They added some poems, clothed Maasai warriors in Ghanaian fabric and made giraffes dance their hearts out.
Nyansapo reproduced impressionist art from Berthe Morisot, Claude Monet, Konstantin Korovin, Camille Pissarro and abstract art from Paul Klee, Piet Mondrian, Barnett Newman and Helen Frankenthaler. They also displayed African, pebble and recycled magazine art.
There was a great turnout and after looking at all the student art and seeing the families who attended, one cannot help but think that this event must become an annual feature on the school calendar. It is difficult to articulate, the pride and joy you see in a child when they have created their own personal masterpiece!
Thank you to everyone who joined us and to Mrs. Amy Burns and Mrs. Catalina Price for conceiving the idea. The teachers and Mrs. Burns deserve special mention for taking their passion for the fine arts to a higher level and for pulling off such an inspiring event within weeks. As always, our budding young artists remain the stars of the show! It was magical to see such beautiful, imaginative and colourful artwork which inspire children’s creativity and boost their confidence. Art is an incredibly powerful learning tool – and what fun we have whilst doing it.! Subsequent exhibitions can only get bigger and better.