As part of the EAST OOST OST international art education exchange project, hARTslane was invited to collaborate in the production and delivery of Stromend Blauw, a series of artist led creative workshops for 400 children at the Aldoende Primary School in Amsterdam.
The workshops, led by Tisna Westerhof, explored people and place and Dutch heritage through various art techniques like print making, collage, embroidery, textiles and ceramics. Each year group worked on a different brief to create an element that contributed to the Crockery of East, a Delft Blue inspired installation of a domestic kitchen and dining room scene. Children hand painted paper-mache vases larger than themselves, decorated their own paper plates and cups, screen-printed and embroidered tea towels and cushions; they crafted their own cutlery sets from clay, decorated vintage crockery using decal transfers and created a Delft Blue patchwork and dining cloth.
The complete installation will be presented at the first Amsterdam Kinder Kunst Biennale in 2021 at the OBA (Openbara Bibliotheek Amsterdam).
Stromend Blauw / Flowing Blue symbolises the connecting element of water streaming across London and Amsterdam. The project celebrates art education across borders, identity and heritage, children and neighbourhood.
“People in my local park have made & hung Tibetan flags and it’s absolutely joyous. It makes the heart whelm and spirit sing. Thank you whoever you are, I really needed that.”
“Found a sense of hope in my local community as artists come together for a common cause: to bring and maintain a sense of hope for the future with messages akin to those on Tibetan prayer flags – of peace, compassion, strength & wisdom.”
“I cycled past Hilly Fields and these Tibetan inspired flags with excellent relevant messages cheered up the place! Let’s hope at least some of them come true and change our attitudes!”
“Lovely to see the ‘Buntings of Hope’ dancing in the breeze at Hilly fields this weekend. The wonderful people at hARTslane have been facilitating workshops with local people to create this magical sight.”
