Arts Explorer #2: Instant Sculpture with Found Objects

 Art word of the week: Colour

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     Colour! When I hear this word I am always reminded of the great ROY G. BIV. Colour provides a beautiful background for our daily lives and has the ability to turn any "dark" atmosphere into a sunny, happy, and cheerful one. I like to think of colour as being an automatic mood changer. Consider, for example how people choose wall colours in their rooms to enhance a specific mood they want achieve. A light blue bedroom (like the one I have) is supposed to create a calming and soothing feeling among homeowners while a red kitchen is supposed to release all of the tasteful and mouthwatering sensations a person is to feel when cooking and eating.

     Colour  is "based on the passage of light, comes from the sun and creates responses of feeling" (Schirrmacher & Fox, 2009, p. 136) within each of us and can be categorized within the following categories: primary, secondary, intermediate, complementary, neutral, hue, value, intensity, tint, and shade.

When reflecting on my instant sculpture it is quite clear what kind of emotion it tugs at because of my "colour" choices.

     As I was thinking about what to create for my instant sculpture I knew two things. The first? I wanted it to reflect me and my personality. Secondly, I knew I wanted it to reflect the items I love. With this being said, my instant sculpture was a "Balloon Bouquet". My personality, or so I have been told, has always been explained as happy, cheerful, and carefree so what  better way to depict these traits than using colourful, free- flowing balloons?

     My love for balloons is still as prominent as it was before when I was younger as I STILL ask for helium- filled balloons on my birthday. I never get them because I'm supposedly too old, but it just goes to show how happy balloons can still make a 20 year old. Another item I absolutely love are flowers. Flowers to me never get old as their varieties, colours, shapes, and unique beauty always seem to captivate me. Maybe the uniqueness and versatility of both objects is why I gravitate towards them so much. 

     Surprisingly this Arts Explorer was difficult to start. Every time I thought I had an idea I would knock it down, believing I was going to think of something bigger and better! It wasn't until I raided my cabinets and saw the various flowers displayed around my home until the light bulb went of. When looking back at the experience I feel good about it because my sculpture not only represents me, it represents my life. Being an optimistic, happy,and open person are all qualities I wish to continue to instill in myself and in the children who I have, and are going to work with. It's all about perspective, creativity and a positive- outlook! 

     This Arts Explorer would be an amazing activity to incorporate into an early childhood setting. In setting up a play space where children have the ability to use whatever materials they see to make whatever they want, they have the ability to use their creative juices. Children will be able to portray their likes, dislikes, personalities etc. within a unique creation. Children's cognitive and social domains of development will also be fostered through the use of open- ended questions, discussions, and reflections of what they have just created. 

"Ninety- nine dreams I have had

And every one a red balloon

It's all over, and I'm standing pretty

In the dust that was a city

I could find a souvenir

Just to prove the world was here

Here it is, a red balloon

I think of you and let it go"

- Goldfinger

99 Red Balloons

Schirrmacher, R. , & Englebright Fox, J. . (2009). Art & creative development for young children. Belmont, California : Delmar Cengage Learning.