Schools Projects Finland
Normaalikoulu
Normaalikoulu school project for the Pinalla (afloat) event
examining water and surface.
For the residency I worked with three schools and university. I created a presentation to the children covering the natural environment and water biodiversity, in particular diatoms. We visited to Rauma kanali which runs through the middle of the city to make a water collection and look through a microscope at what we could find. From this we developed a sculpture which merged with the city-wide event for all schools the Pinella on the theme of 'water and water surface and what would float?
We decided to use recyled materials from home, plastic such as lids from boxes and developed it into a diatom-inspired shape to float on top of a plastic sheet. and then we joined the other schools to see whose work would float - of course ours di, to great cheers from along the canalside
Rauman freinetkoulu
Rauman freinetkoulu school project for the Pinalla - pupils made water collections and viewed them through a microscope and created large drawings for visitors to colour
Following water collecting and observation through microscope the pupils developed a series of large scale drawings based on their observations and photographs or images from computers to reference . These drawings took inspiration the from of the widely popular colouring books usually of intricate floral or natural forms for adults. These were presented at the Pinalla art lab close to the Rauma Kanali where visitors could come and colour the drawings, later displayed in the City library.
Special Guest Dr. Richard Gordon
Eminent Theoretical Biologist Dr. Richard Gordon agreed to attend a Skype event with the pupils. Following a presentation I gave on biodiversity in water and new research in nanotechnology, they wished to ask a scientist questions about diatoms and nanotechnology. The pupils came to school early and Dr. Gordon stayed up very late.
Normaalikoulu
Uotilarinteenkoulu
Uotilarinteenkoulu, is situated outside Rauma city centre working with a group of students aged 10 to 15. I gave a presentation on environmental art and my own research on water biodiversity, particularly focusing on diatoms and their various forms.
Following the presentation, the students were given a creative challenge. They were asked to work with a specific material - in this case, long lengths of blue rope. Using this rope, the students were instructed to create a series of interventions or installations within the natural landscape and woodland surrounding their school grounds.
Subsequently, the students were tasked with another activity involving natural materials. They were encouraged to explore their surroundings and collect natural materials they could use to construct "rafts." These rafts were then floated on the water, as a hands-on exploration of buoyancy and encouraged to engage creatively with their environment, explore concepts of art and biodiversity, and develop practical skills in using materials to create art installations and objects.
Karin koulu
At Karin Koulu, the group comprised students facing diverse challenges including language difficulties, math struggles, learning issues in specific subjects, and difficulties with study skills, social skills, or regular school attendance. This encompassed students dealing with Autism, ADHD, and behavioural problems.
To offer a unique learning opportunity, a day trip was organised to a serene bay near the school following a visual presentation displaying images of microorganisms in the classroom. All the students rode their bikes there, where they collaborated with an artist, a teacher, and a support teacher to create artwork inspired by the patterns they had seen in the presentation. After receiving instructions, the group demonstrated exceptional teamwork in constructing a fence solely from branches and twigs they had collected. Furthermore, they spontaneously collaborated to create art using dried grasses and even staged a performance.
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