Birbky April 2012
‘Tree of Life’
Local Nomad had another brilliant week working with the
Reception children at Birkby. The workshops were based around the cycle of a
tree.
Firstly we made the autumn leaves; from recycled paper mulch the
children moulded their own leaf shapes and added a variety of seeds and
painting with food colouring to get the beautiful colours of autumn. Next we
made the seeds for spring; using wooden and dough beads the children built
little sculptures using wire to create buds that were carefully painted. The
seeds were encased in a magic mixture; the children had lots of fun moulding
the mixture around the buds. Then came the blossom and flowers of summer, using
colourful recycled materials the children made beautiful flower sculptures.
Local Nomad artists created a willow tree on a revolving base
and all the work created by the children was attached to the tree; on the final
day at Birkby the tree came to life in a performance showing all the seasons to
both children and families.
The rain came and the magic mixture melted to reveal the buds of
spring, turning the tree the blossom and flowers came into bloom, glittering
with fairy lights. With the next turn came autumn, with the wind blowing the leaves
off the tree leaving it bear for the final turn of winter.
The children each took a leaf with the seeds inside and planted
it in a pot to take home and continue the cycle of life.
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| Making the magic mixture |
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| Beautiful Blossoms |
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| The rain came revealing the buds of spring |
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| Flowers of summer |
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| The wind of autumn came and blew away the leaves |
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| Autumn leaves |
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| Buds of spring |
