Rock, Paper, Scissors for Schools 8 - 23 Jun 2022

Each school group will start their visit with a tour of the exhibition space, to observe how the featured artists have experimented with their favourite material to create unique and spectacular artworks.

The exhibition features three very different artists who have three very different material fascinations:

• Helen Mac Mahon adores light that bends, bounces and shimmers.
• Jonathon Nangle loves sound that tinkles, beats, and blasts.
• Róisín de Buitléar is mad about glass that melts, blobs and shatters.

Artists often become fascinated by an individual material in this way, getting to know it by playing by (and often breaking) the rules that a material makes!

Our workshops for 1^st – 6^th classes draw inspiration from the exhibition to explore paper, light and shadow. Experienced facilitators will guide pupils through explorations of selected materials and creative techniques to produce individual and collaborative 2D and 3D artworks that will form temporary art installations in The Ark’s gallery spaces.

Workshop Type 1: Paper Playroom
Wed 8 – Fri 10 June @ 10am & @ 12.15pm

Join artist Jane Groves to get creative with paper and light in The Ark’s Long Room exhibition space. Students will be introduced to the Paper Playroom, full of different types of paper and textures to rip, twist, curl, fold and scrunch into individual or group sculptures. Using projectors and lighting gels, light, shadow and silhouettes will also be explored in this playful paper workshop for schools.

Curricular Links:
Students are encouraged to look at and respond to artworks during their visit to the Rock, Paper, Scissors exhibition. This workshop also focuses on drawing and construction, investigating papers, textures, light and shadow, paper manipulation techniques and the creation of 2D and 3D pieces. This workshop enables inventiveness and problem-solving skills and encourages individual and collaborative expression.

Workshop Type 2: Shadow Play!
Mon 13 – Fri 17 & Mon 20 – Thu 23 June @ 10am & @ 12.15pm

Join artist Róisín White to work with shadows, projectors, sculpture and large scale drawing! In this playful workshop, pupils will work in groups to create interesting shadows and silhouettes through sculpture, construction and draping fabric on the body. Observational and imaginative drawing will be explored in response to the shadows and silhouettes creating unique large scale collaborative pieces.

Curricular Links:
Students are encouraged to look at and respond to artworks during their visit to the Rock, Paper, Scissors exhibition. This workshop also focuses on drawing and construction, exploring shapes, outlines, shadows and compositions through 2D and 3D creations.

For schools participating in the Summer Education Programme, we are offering a number of free in-person and online relaxed workshops developed for children of mixed abilities, focusing on visual arts and dance. For details and to book - click here.

We plan, as far as possible, for each material to be re-used and reinvented across the entire summer programme, dramatically minimising our use and waste of creative materials and resources.