Swings + Roundabouts Autumn 2021

Ephemeral art is a sustainable and creative activity for you to use in your early learning centre. If you are like me and stumble each time over the word, ephemeral, Earth art is another name that can be used and is really self-explanatory to both tamariki and adults! Ephemeral art can be defined as an art form where an artist uses natural resources (twigs, leaves, stones etc) to create original pieces of art and which is often temporary and created in the environment to naturally erode, and is possibly what you do every day in the sandpit if you have a range of resources like stones, shells, leaves and sticks close by. As well as creating ephemeral art in the outdoors it can also be created indoors and considered to be an experience that is creative, science-based, sustainability education, utilises many math concepts (patterning, grouping and sorting), encourages curiosity, and can be a mindful activity on one’s own or collaboratively (Ōtaki Kindergarten, 2010; NKA, 2013). Lisa Terreni (a Victoria University lecturer and artist), describes ephemeral art as an experience 'to deepen children's learning about the aesthetic qualities of materials, enhance an appreciation of the inherent beauty in the materials, and deepen their respect for these taonga (treasures)” (Mairtown Kindergarten blogspot, 2012). The Napier Kindergarten Association (NKA, 2013) researched the benefits of tamariki engaging in this art form and its connection to Papatūānuku (Earth Mother), which Ōtaki kindergarten (2010) describes as “deeply satisfying, not only creatively but also spiritually because it can connect an artist to the pulse of the landscape and the heartbeat of Papatūānuku (p. 8). EPHEMERAL ART BY TRUDI SUTCLIFFE Findings from NKA (2013) research include; Teachers who successfully encouraged ephemeral art were those who: • translated links between the natural world and Aotearoa and the kindergarten setting, supporting children's identity and sense of place among unique cultures and landscapes • presented materials aesthetically and in an open-ended way • were inspired teachers who encouraged tamariki to see the beauty, symmetry, pattern with a deep and rich understanding of the world around them. The researchers found that ephemeral art was often rich in imagery play with tamariki giving meaning to representational materials in their fantasy play. Resources can range from: autumn leaves, twigs, stones, soft green moss and shells, furry willow buds, feathers, pumice, driftwood, Cape Gooseberry pods, fleece, bark, twigs, flowers, pine cones (Ōtaki Kindergarten, 2010; Mairtown Kindergarten blogspot, 2012; NKA, 2013) …the list is endless and full of possibilities…. Surfaces for the art can be as open-ended as a large black (best effect) sheet over a table, or proposed borders through loose sticks or driftwood as temporary frames (or make more permanent frames), pieces of cardboard or material (range of colours and shapes). Ephemeral art can at first be hard for some children to understand, as they can’t glue it and take it home! But ways to work around this include having display areas for a day or two or offering tamariki a photo as a way to capture their art (or even better if tamariki take their own photo) (NKA, 2013). So next time your early learning centre is out-and-about, whether exploring your local neighbourhood, beach or bush (or even on your own walk outside of work) don’t forget to take a bag or basket to References Mairtown Kindergarten blogspot, (2012). Ephemeral Art , Retrieved from: http:// mairtownkindy.blogspot.com/2012/05/ ephemeral-art.html Napier Kindergarten Association (2013). Ephemeral art with young children in Aotearoa NZ - this paper supports a presentation given at the NKA Teachers Conference Visual Arts/A Kanohi Toi on 30th September 2013 at the War Memorial Centre, Napier. Retrieved from: http://www.napierkindergartens . co.nz/News/Professional+Research/ Ephemeral+Art.html Ōtaki Kindergarten (2010). “Existing only briefly” – ephemeral art. ecART nz emagazine of professional practice for early childhood educators in Aotearoa New Zealand. Issue 3, 8-9. Retrieved from: https://www.elp.co.nz/ files/ecartnz_issue_3.pdf gather taonga and then make space and time for wonder and exploration either indoors or outside or even on your excursions within nature! March 2021 { 36 }