Learning Creative Learning - Week One

Week one focused on an introduction to the weekly themes, the speakers we will meet and the technology that will be used to deliver all the content.
The reading, All I Really Need to Know (About Creative Thinking) I Learned (By Studying How Children Learn) in Kindergarten by Mitch Resnick argued that a hands-on exploratory kindergarten approach to learning needs to be extended throughout school and throughout life.  He described a spiral of activity around imagination, creativity, play, sharing and reflection.  Children move fluidly through these activities when engaged with open-ended materials.  The MIT Media Lab works to develop learning tools to help extend this kindergarten style of learning to learners of all ages.
One idea that really stood out for me in the article was the fact that the root of creative thinking is create.  Create is a verb, an action word; to develop creative thinking, we need opportunities to create, to engage with materials and make something.  I look forward to additional readings and speakers related to the Maker Movement in future lectures.
Another thing that stood out for me was a list of tips put together by students learning and creating with a programming language.  They offered these suggestions for future students:

Start simple

Work on things that you like 

If you have no clue what to do, fiddle around 

Don't be afraid to experiment 

Find a friend to work with, share ideas! 

It’s OK to copy stuff (to give you an idea) 

Keep your ideas in a sketch book 

Build, take apart, rebuild 

Lots of things can go wrong, stick with it

(Resnick, M, 2007)

I was struck by how much these tips apply equally well in our studio setting at Art at the Center.  I plan to post the list and invite young artists to add their own tips and suggestions.

Learning Creative Learning

I just joined over 24,000 others in beginning this on-line course through the MIT Media Lab.  For the next 3 months I will be attending class via youtube lectures, completing readings and reflecting on the process of learning and nurturing creative learning.  The first week focused on the inspiration for the course and the idea that the root of creative thinking is the verb, "CREATE" I look forward to active participation in this class and to sharing ah-ha moments through our newsletter.  Kathryn

Light the Night December 21, 2012

Family Moving Sculpture Workshop

Our Saturday Moving Sculpture workshop was a great success.  Thanks to all who attended.  See above for a movie of the robotic creations and below for some photos of the process of creation.

Drawing a plan first helped builders to imagine the design of their sculpture and how the motor part would be incorporated into the design.

This plan focused on adding the legs - the face flips up to get to the switch to turn int on.

Father and son working together allows for great exchange of ideas as they problem-solve.

Mother and daughter work together lending a helping hand with tools.  

 After completing creations, cards recorded their names, birth dates and special features.  Spinomatic above.

Daddy bug.

Rebecca.

Fizzy cannon ball - it vibrates and spins.

This one is for sale by its proud creator!

Take the Cardboard Challenge this Weekend

Last spring a friend and fellow art teacher sent me a link to a You Tube video entitled, Caine's Arcade. It features a nine year old boy named Caine and the fabulous cardboard arcade he built over the summer in his father's auto-parts store in east Los Angeles.

The story is told by Nirvan Mullick, an independent film-maker who was his first customer. The detail, dedication and ingenuity in the cardboard arcade are remarkable as is Caine's dedication to his project in spite of initially having very little audience for his work. The film features the flash-mob event organized by Mullick to suprise Caine as well as interviews with his dad about the building of the arcade and images of his many game creations.

What really excited me about the project was how accessible it is to kids and families. Cardboard and tape seem to be universal building blocks of childhood. In his interview Caine's father said he was glad the arcade kept his son busy and engaged during the long summer days. He encouraged and supported the project without getting too involved. When Caine wanted to go buy a special part for a particular game, his father challenged him to make one and was surprised and delighted by Caine's inventive solution.

Watch the origial Caine's Arcade video for yourself here:

Caine's Arcade

Then move on to the second video:

Chapter 2: The Global Cardboard Challenge

Anyone can participate and it is a great reminder of ingenuity and creativity that can be found by building with simple everyday materials.

During classes at Art at the Center we have been building and experimenting with ways to create with cardboard and some of our discoveries are pictured below.

We encourage you to gather your boxes this weekend and enjoy some time over the 3 day weekend creating with cardboard with your children, family, friends and neighbors.

Email us photos of your creations and we will post them to inspire other builders!

Related stories:

Think Inside the Box!

Expand Your Home Studio: Look to the Recycle Bin

BIG CHALK DRAW 2012

Thank you to everyone who joined us August 31 for our 4th Annual Big Chalk Draw in the Art at the Center parking lot.
See the link below for a time-lapse video of the transformation of the lot from a blank slate to a field of color.

3rd Anniversary Collage Event

Thank you to all who joined us for our 3rd Anniversary Community collage event. We collected several bags of food and donated $100 to United Community Ministries.
Below are some highlights of the afternoon made by artists of all ages.

Many layers and LOTS of glue make for a captivating collage process.

A collage for a friend who is moving home.

Everything in this one Bounces!

Collage turns 3D with this paper tree sculpture.

Which inspires a great village of standing paper houses.

Finally, an elaborate labyrinth created on the floor reminds us of the wonderful connections between collage and play.