Kite-Making, Tie and Dye and Paper Marbling
TEAM- ASHWINI, KANIKA, SHREIYAA AND MEERA
On the 4th of August 2011 at around half past two we arrived at a school called R.C. Todagapalli. We were the first group to conduct an art session in Villupuram for Communities Rising. We had around 70 kids eager to do the activities we had prepared for them.
Kite-Making
It was very surprising that the children didn’t know how to use scissors. During kite making we required them to stick the bamboo frame onto the paper and cut the diamond shape around it. Some of the children didn’t understand how to apply the sticky side of the tape down and most of them didn’t know how to use scissors. They were all very excited about using scissors and the fevicol glue. They all went crazy over the kite decorations, the glitter and the stick on letters. Some kids tried sticking on their names using letters from the alphabet while others used the glitter not only on their kites but also on the tie and dye and on their own clothes and faces!
Tie and Dye
We cut out small square patches of cloth before we reached the site. Once we were there, we taught them, how to tie the thread around the cloth, and other options of making patterns, where in they could tie stones in the cloth with the thread if they wanted. Most of the children were experimental and came up with interesting designs, though some decided to stick to the exact same way in which they were taught.
Soon after, they were all really excited to dip their cloth in paint, and dip it several times in different colours.
After that,all the children put their pieces of cloth to dry together. They were pretty excited to open it soon after, even though it wasn’t dry. The designs that came out of it were pretty interesting and intelligent, keeping in mind that this was their first tie and dye activity.
Soon after, they were all really excited to dip their cloth in paint, and dip it several times in different colours.
After that,all the children put their pieces of cloth to dry together. They were pretty excited to open it soon after, even though it wasn’t dry. The designs that came out of it were pretty interesting and intelligent, keeping in mind that this was their first tie and dye activity.
Paper Marbling
Paper marbling turned into a filler activity that took place as the children waited for their tie and dye to dry and ran to the tub where paper marbling was taking place with multiple sheets of paper. The activity was demonstrated to them once after which they all made a long line and one-by-one came to the tub to dip their sheets in. All the girls wanted pink and all the boys wanted black! There was some glitter paint as well which caught the girls’ fancy and it was shyly requested for multiple times. The children loved the activity as it was really short and they saw results instantly.