Glenorchy School
Region: Otago/Southland
Art form: Multi-Disciplinary
Project name: Nga Tau o Glenorchy
Creative name: Jessie Cornell
Project Information:
The students of Glenorchy School live in a unique remote environment. In Glenorchy, the differences between the seasons can be both subtle and distinct. The aim of this project is to educate the students of Glenorchy School about the seasons and to encourage them to look for the signs of the changing seasons in their local environment and in turn, learn about their community and the world around them. Student's will also look inward during these times and take stock from a wellbeing perspective of what is happening for their bodies along with the change of seasons.
The creative aim of this project is for the students to engage in collaborative and independent art projects (one for each season) to reflect visually what they have learned about each season. The students will engage in projects that they would not ordinarily have access to through the school's standard art curriculum and use materials which are new and unfamiliar to them. This learning about the seasons and art techniques will take place from a Te Ao Māori perspective and incorporate components of Nga Hau e Wha o Hauora to provide all involved with cultural insights and incorporate significant Māori culture and language into the learning experiences.
The project is divided into four parts: Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. The learning surrounding each season will be represented in a different artistic way.
- Autumn: the students will collaborate to create then use natural stencils and spray paint to create murals on plywood to hang in our kura.
- Winter: the students will create mosaic tiles to decorate the grounds of their kura. Students will work collaboratively to produce a tile which represents winter in Glenorchy.
- Spring: the students will be given freedom to create their own personal tie dye t-shirt which reflects their personality and identity. As all students will also have a shirt and create them in a group atmosphere these shirts will also be a unifying project.
- Summer: the students will create a textile quilt to hang in a foyer of their kura. They will each have the opportunity to plan and paint their own individual square to be sewn into the quilt.
The students will begin each section of the project by spending time out in the environment and taking notice of the traits of each season. Students will learn waiata, hear purakau and discuss their personal experiences relating to the season. Students will then link physical aspects of the season with the physical aspects of how we take care of ourselves at this time of the year. From there they will learn the concepts and incorporate the values of Tikanga Māori and Nga Hau e Wha o Hauora and learn not only how these values/concepts apply to the project but also how they apply to our overall health and wellbeing.
Project starting: January 2023
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