The Ark, A Cultural Centre for Children presents
Mandscape
| Exhibition Dates: | Tuesday 21 October – Sunday 16 November |
| Times: | 10am–5pm (Tuesdays–Saturdays) 12–5pm (Sundays) Last admission 4pm |
| Age Range: | All ages |
| Price: | Free |
Mandscape is a national contemporary visual art touring initiative for children, schools and families, conceived and managed by The Ark, A Cultural Centre for Children. Funded by the Arts Council Touring Experiment, The Ark devised a groundbreaking project that would encourage children to access and engage with contemporary visual art. The project linked four venues (South Tipperary Arts Centre; AXIS Arts Centre, Dublin; glór, Ennis and the Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny) and involved nine professional artists in a network to share best practice ideas about children and the visual arts.
The Mandscape exhibition, curated by Martin Drury, Founding Director of The Ark, comprises of ten artworks from The Ark’s own visual art collection. The exhibition depicts urban and rural landscapes where mankind is present or has left a trace. Mandscape features pieces by leading artists Brian Bourke, Oliver Comerford, Daniel de Chenu, Michael Durand, Martin Gale, Joy Gerrard, Nickie Hayden, Clare Langan, Brendan Neiland and Barbara Rae.
Due to the exceptional feedback from children, teachers and families about the tour, we are delighted to bring the Mandscape project to The Ark.
Accompanying visual art workshops, led by artists from the Mandscape network,
will invite children to imaginatively explore and respond to the exhibition.
Depending on the workshop of choice, participants will directly experience
a range of artistic media, such as drawing, printing, collage, sculpture,
photographic drawing and the ancient art of Chinese ink painting. This is
a wonderful opportunity for children, teachers and families to work with
artists, who have a real passion and experience in engaging children in visual
art.
It is also intended to be great fun and inspirational! The workshop programme
is suitable for children of all ages.
An extra dimension, not featured in the original tour, is interactive elements to the exhibition itself. This will include a weaving wall where everyone attending the exhibition will be invited to participate in the Mandscape concept of leaving a temporary trace on the landscape, in this case the physical space of The Ark. A number of free exhibition tours, led by The Ark’s Visual Arts Programmer, Ashleigh Downey, will also be available. Everyone – child or adult – is welcome but booking in advance is advisable.
A panel discussion on Mandscape is scheduled for Wednesday 12 November at 4pm, to share learning about touring projects and working with children through visual art. We are delighted that Martin Drury and Catherine Marshall, Touring Experiment Visual Arts Advisor, from the Arts Council, will join us, as well as some of the workshop artists.
Every school attending a workshop will receive a free colour catalogue, as a resource for creative work in the classroom. Every child who attends a workshop will receive a free poster and curator’s essay.
Mandscape Workshops
| Workshop designed by artist Laura de Búrca | |
| Dates: | Saturday 25 October – Saturday 15 November (Saturdays only) |
| Times: | 10.30am (3 – 5 years) | 12.30pm (4 – 6 years) |
| Age Range: | 3 – 5 years | 4 – 6 years |
| Duration: | 1 hour |
Imagine making the very first marks upon an untouched planet you have just discovered! In this workshop you are encouraged to express yourself by making paths and impressions on your very own inky landscape.
| Workshop designed by artist Orla Kelly | |
| Dates: | Friday 31 October / Tuesday 11 – Friday 14 November |
| Times: | 10.30 am (all dates) / 2.30pm (31 October only) |
| Age Range: | 4 – 6 years |
| Class Range: | Junior Infants – 1st Class |
| Duration: | 1 hour 30 minutes |
Step into the world of cartography and become a map maker. Focussing on textures and materials, this workshop allows you the opportunity to design and map your own world.
| Workshop designed by artist Mhairi Sutherland | |
| Dates: | Tuesday 21 – Friday 24 October |
| Times: | 10.30am |
| Age Range: | 6 – 9 years |
| Class Range: | 2nd – 4th Class |
| Duration: | 1 hour |
Reflecting some of the photographic
and filmic elements of the Mandscape exhibition, this workshop will explore
light, shade and transparency through a mark making process.
Different ways of creating images from natural materials to modern technology
will be explored within the workshop.
| Workshop designed by artist Colin Crotty | |
| Dates: | Tuesday 28 October |
| Times: | 10.30am / 2.30pm |
| Age Range: | 6 – 9 years |
| Class Range: | 2nd – 4th Class |
| Duration: | 2 hours |
Explore and discover your own ideas and responses to the Mandscape art works, through the technique of watercolour painting. In this workshop you will have the opportunity to use new and exciting materials, such as Chinese ink brushes, and discover new techniques with paint, pouring, staining and creating plains of colour.
| Workshop designed by artist Liz Smith | |
| Dates: | Saturday 25 October – Saturday 15 November (Saturdays only) |
| Times: | 2.30pm |
| Age Range: | 6–9 years (1 & 15 November) |
| 9–12 years (25 October & 8 November) | |
| Duration: | 2 hours |
Create and construct your own window box, by using man-made and natural materials, such as moss, leaves and seeds. By putting two separate windows together, we create a Mandscape. This Mandscape can then change and grow in your home environment.
| Workshop designed by artist Jole Bortoli | |
| Dates: | Tuesday 4–Friday 7 November |
| Times: | 10.30am |
| Age Range: | 9–12 years |
| Class Range | 5th–6th Class |
| Duration: | 2 hours |
This workshop will introduce you to textures through natural and man-made materials. Using techniques such as drawing, mark making, rubbing and collage you will be guided through a personal and imaginative interpretation of a landscape.
| Workshop designed by artist Beth O’Halloran | |
| Dates: | Wednesday 29–Thursday 30 October |
| Times: | 10.30am / 2.30pm |
| Age Range: | 9–12 years |
| Class Range | 5th–6th Class |
| Duration: | 2 hours |
Tell your story of a landscape that changes, through a technique of sculptural animation. Let your imagination run wild, as you create your very own moving drawing.
| Workshop for families designed by artist Liz Smith | |
| Dates: | Sunday 26 October–Sunday 16 November (Sundays only) |
| Times: | 2.30pm |
| Age Range: | All ages |
| Duration: | 2 hours |
Create and construct your own window box as a family, using man-made and natural materials. You each make an individual window which we will then join together to create a Mandscape. This Mandscape can then change and grow in your home environment.
