Toucans really put a lot of thought into their questions on what they seen in the collages then took a look at the pictures/collages together and shared our thoughts, ideas and feelings on each art piece!
Prague
Owls' Pieces of Me
2023, 4 years old, 5 years old, 6 years old, Czech Republic, Dear You Art Workshops, KoreaCommentThe pathfinder was started by asking children to think of ways to share who they are with their new friends in Jeju Island. They thought of sending them postcards with drawings so we then introduced the concept of a collage. We showed some examples of different collages and provided them with several magazines, scrap paper with patterns, colors and old newspapers.
Making Ripples
2022, Iceland, Czech RepublicCommentDuring the video call with the Little Owls, Ofurhetjuhópur were amazed to see that their artworks were exhibited on a wall of their kindergarten classroom amongst others images from Iceland. From that fact, plus all the artworks that they received themselves from Prague, we talked about how our actions have consequences, how, without knowing it sometimes, we can influence the life of others and vice versa.
The Owls train their ears and warm up their listening skills
4 years old, 5 years old, 6 years old, Czech Republic, Dear You Art Workshops, IcelandCommentThe Owls here in Little Mole preschool were thrilled to hear we had some messages from our Icelandic friends. They were eager to listen to all the messages but when they learned that the messages were in an unknown language we decided to train our ears and warm up our listening skills first. We opened our ears to listen and try to identify all the sounds around, we also listened to different types of music in different languages.
December Peacefulness in Prague
2014, 4th Grade, Czech Republic, Dear You Art Workshops, Finland, HolidaysCommentDear You,
Last workshop of this year was also my last contribution to this project. As you could sense all around the Panda Learning Center, Christmas are everywhere and I wanted to set up the workshop in this mood. I wanted to create a calm and peaceful atmosphere and to have time to chat with the students. This time we used just markers, scissors and blank white A4 paper. During the workshop we talked about Christmas time and what we would like to give to the students from Finland, which was really fun and I hope that you are going to see it soon. The biggest source for us was the licorice world, which we all remember from one of the the previous workshop in which we received pictures of licorice candies from Finland.
In the end, I especially wanted to thank my students for their intense attitude and high quality outcomes, also thanks to stuff of Panda Learning Center for providing me warm words and lunch, students from Finland for their funny letters and last but not least to Arlene Tucker coordinator of this project for patience and trust to give me space and time within Dear You project.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Prague
Veselé Vánoce a šťastný nový rok z Prahy
- Rudolf Samohejl
Being in the moment with sounds in Prague
2014, 4th Grade, Czech Republic, Collective Art, Dear You Art Workshops, FinlandCommentThis time at Central Point International Elementary School in Prague we made a visualization of the music project.
I prepared for the students a long sheet of paper and than while we altogether were listening to music, we tried to express what we heard. The aim was not to create separate individual results of our observations, but we wanted to get closer to the idea of listening together and also creating together. That is why we used this kind of paper. All the students at some point disturbed each other's drawing and had to deal with each other's drawing space, which brought new element into our working method. Hopefully our friend school in Helsinki will recognize the energy locked into the piece.
We listened to:
Flight of the Bumblebee
Amelia from Montmartre
Japanese relaxation music
433 John Cage
- Rudolf Samohejl
Mmm... Margot and other Czech sweets!
4th Grade, Czech Republic, Dear You Art Workshops, 2014CommentOur second meeting with students from Central Point International Elementary School in Prague, Czech Republic was the most difficult workshop we have had together so far. I started the lesson by showing short examples from the history of still lifes to the students; the works from Rembrandt, Picasso, Warhol,etc. I explained what a still life is and how the authors were trying to get closer to depicting the reality by using all their senses.
Afterwards, I put candy in the middle of the working table and told the students that instead of eating the candy we will use them as tools [that is why I told them at the beginning that this is going to be the most difficult workshop so far]. We first drew the packages of all the sweets on look through paper and than we used the actual candy to „paint with them the smell“ of the different kinds of Candy we have in the Czech Republic. So hopefully you will smell the Margot (famous Czech candy) in Finland soon.
It was a really great afternoon and the concept of our class also inspired other teachers from Central Point School. In the end, the students looked really amazed what they were able to create and I enjoyed both the lesson and the results of their work.
- Rudolf Samohejl
Collaging Self Portrait Puppets in Prague
Czech Republic, Dear You Art Workshops, 5th GradeCommentOur first meeting with students from Central Point International Elementary School in Prague, Czech Republic was exciting for all of us.
I started the lesson by bringing a few magazines in. While browsing through, we discussed our role models and how our own puppets could look like. For faces, some of the kids chose already existing faces from the magazines which they drew on tracing paper while others drew their own faces. The kids were asked to use a template to cut their puppets but they already adjusted the shapes to their own needs and wishes. Regarding the material, we tried to use scissors, glue and all possible kinds of collage-like stuff: coloured paper, fabric, old jeans.
We really like the results of our class and we already look forward to the next time.
- Rudolf Samohejl
Dear You Workshop Leader
