Beautiful Sculpted Bees
There are thousands of species of bees. They are truly one of the most beautiful and collaborative types of insects on our planet but there is foreboding danger of the potential loss of the global honeybee population. The consequence of a dying bee population impacts humanity at the highest levels on our food chain. Since no other single animal species plays a more significant role in producing the fruits and vegetables that humans eat daily. Honeybees pollinate over 30% of our natural food. Students learn about bees and the phenomenon of Colony Collapse Disorder brought on by increased use of pesticides, the Varroa destructor parasite, shrinking habitats, multiple viruses, poor nutrition and genetics, and even cell phone towers. Students build their own colony using creative materials including bamboo and wire. Adaptable to all grades ~ Charmaine Lurch + Moojan Nazmi ~
Artistic Process + Short Films Primaries (soft sculpture) Juniors (wire sculpture)
DNA + ME
Cells are the basic building blocks of all living things! Our body is comprised of trillions of cells that provide our physical being, take in nutrients from food, convert those nutrients into energy, and carry out special functions. Cells also contain the body’s hereditary material and can make copies of themselves. This is called our DNA and it is unique to every individual and their ancestry. DNA + ME is STEAM opportunity to examine ourselves and the science of cells while creating small and large scale DNA inspired portraits, 3D paper, wire sculpture or a narrative mural. Ideal for grades 7+8 ~ Pria Muzumdar ~ Artistic Process + Short Film
Eco-Systems of the World
Eco-systems mixed media with junior students ~ Marsha Stonehouse ~
Biodiversity is the variety of different types of life found on earth. An organism is a contiguous (things that are in contact or readily associated) living system. There are a variety of organisms present in different ecosystems. These ecosystems are a community of living and non-living components controlled by internal and external forces. Sustainability is the mindful management of the forces in our ecosystems to ensure ongoing production of goods and services to humanity. Students explore one or more ecosystems of the world, inter-relationships and how humankind can work to ensure sustainability through conscious living and create a mixed media art piece of an ecosystem that incorporates ideas for sustainability, individually or collaboratively. Adaptable to all grades ~ Elizabeth Greisman, Karen Harkins, Moojan Nazmi + Allycia Uccello ~
FLOW
Here we examine the universal presence of flow seen in successful natural and social organizations and chat about how these tree-like structures have core strength, are rooted with organic branches or split patterns that can adapt to environmental conditions. We can compare tree branching to our circulatory system, rivers, etc., and then to other social organization schematics such as families, schools, networks, communities and neighbourhoods. We can create a collaborative social system inspired by how nature ebbs and flows. Art work is mixed media with colourful illustrations and paint. Conceived and led by visual artist and designer Pria Muzumdar and can include dance with Mariposa In The Schools choreographers Sarina Condello + Bailey Davis ~ Adaptable to all grades ~
Artistic Process
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
The true story of Henrietta Lacks who surprised doctors at John Hopkins University in Baltimore in 1950 when it was discovered her immortal (durable and prolific) cells could heal millions of sick and dying and also contribute to successful cloning, polio and other preventative vaccines and gene mapping. Henrietta died of cancer in 1951 and since then 11,000 patients have been involved in research with HeLa cells. Yet Henrietta never knew of her remarkable cells. She never gave her consent for their use and she and her poverty stricken family were never compensated. Here is a remarkable true story inspired program of a remarkable woman and her immortal cells expressed in a tiny petri dish. Ideal for grades 7 + 8 ~ Charmaine Lurch ~
Artistic Process + Short Film
SWARM (En/Fr)
Swarm is a scientific term that describes a number of similar geologic phenomena or features occurring closely within a given period or place. Swarm can describe a group of bees, ants or aggregation of persons or animals in turmoil or moving in mass. To create a swarm of insects we need to begin with a single bug. Build a body in three parts—head, thorax and abdomen. Six legs. Two eyes. Mandibles and antennae.
Then cut, fold, bend, twist, stretch, push, pull and glue our drawings or wire sculpture into a three-dimensional wonder ready to hop, scamper, leap or fly—one to take home and one to build a remarkable and colourful SWARM in our school. Artists bring their expertise on bird and insect habitat, indigenous species, flight, migration, swarm intelligence and bio-diversity to the artistic process. Adaptable for all grades ~ Charmaine Lurch, Pria Muzumdar + Paul Walty ~
Artistic Process + Short Film