Hi everyone!
Last Wednesday, at 3:30 pm, I spent time with 10 kids in an after-school program, making miniature food. It was amazing. I’ve never seen time fly by quite so fast before.
Some Kids' Foods, before "toasting"
I’ll be doing five after-school classes with these kids, on various Wednesdays. The first one was an opportunity to make hotdogs, hamburgers or pizzas. I made prototypes, created kits of clay using sandwich bags and premade sausage, tomato, onion, pickle and green olive slices, which I divvied up into the bags. It was pretty wonderful. Not enough time, as we only got 45 min together, but loaded with activity. (I’ve blanked out their names, for privacy.)
Prototypes
The kids were awesome! I had an age-range of 5 to 10 and no way of knowing which was which. Thank heaven they gave me an assistant. She ended up with three fairly quiet little girls (I suspect one was the five-year-old) and gave them lots of steady attention. I spent my time running between the tables answering questions.
Lots of pieces to touch and explore
To make it easier for the kids, I also made the foods separately, so they could see what a slice of cheese might look like on its own, what the sauce looked like before it was added to the crust or how the bun looked before it got “toasted” with chalk.
I really want these kids to feel successful, to take pride in what they’ve made. It’s hard, when you haven’t had a chance to play with polymer clay before being thrown into a whirlwind class, but they managed to make the best of it. Some frustration, but hopefully they could see how amazing their pieces are, with so little instruction.
This coming Wednesday is Leaping Lizard Clay Play, in which the kids can choose to make a lizard, frog or turtle. (Turtles are easiest and fun to decorate!)
Hope you’re all doing well and surviving this winter.
Blessings! —Chris
How fun! These look spectacular; the details in the bits you created are so intricate. (LOVE the red onion slices!) I can only imagine how much your students enjoyed this opportunity, Chris. You go, girl!
I think they had fun. It was such a short time! Anything to get kids interested in the arts!
Take care, my friend.
Chris, You ROCK !!!
Awww!
Welcome back! Your art looks great in the Temporality exhibit. I can’t wait to hear about your trip…
Chris, I would have loved working on this project as a kid. There is something about tiny food that is so mesmerizing. What a great idea!
I’d love to say it was my idea; it’s so much fun to make mini foods. Have you checked out any of the YouTube videos on them? People are making extraordinary things. I’m just glad the kids were game to play with me!
You’ve got a great line up of retreats on your website. I loved the one I attended up north. Fabulous writing weekend!
http://www.lauriemattila.com/retreats.html
Chris,
The little hamburger and veggies are adorable! What a fun project. Can’t wait for the next installment. Amy
Oooh! Wait ’til you see the lizards, frogs and turtles! I’ve made the prototypes and am working on the full photo instruction sheets.
How ’bout you? Do you have art in an exhibit now or coming up? Curious minds want to know…
Take care! —Chris
what fun! you are so organized, and dedicated to giving the children a memorable experience with their creativity.
Thanks Rita! I hope they enjoy it even half as much as I do!