Children's Workshops Exhibit Artwork at The Ark in Ireland, 7/14-8/22

Children from ages 4 and upwards have a unique opportunity to exhibit their artwork in city centre location and be part of an evolving exhibition. This summer The Ark, A Cultural Centre for children is putting visual arts centre stage until 22 August.

This summer at The Ark its ART 360°, where you get the chance to encounter a range of visual arts activities. From making art, with all kinds of diverse materials, to exhibiting your work: a true multi-media experience. EXHIBIT ME! summer visual arts programme is running at The Ark until 22nd August. This is a unique opportunity to work alongside professional artist Terry O'Farrell, who will guide you and inspire you to create your very own artworks in a visual arts experience exploring the theme of FAMILY. Workshops have been running since 14th July and the exhibition is evolving each week.

The experience begins in The Ark's gallery, where you can view some of Terry's work. Meet and spend time with a ‘live' artist, share stories about her family, her work, and have creative conversations to explore your own ideas of family. The Ark workshop becomes your very own studio as each week, Terry introduces a range of exciting materials and techniques with which you can experiment. Everything you see and touch can be inspiration for the creation of your piece of art and each Sunday you can bring your whole family along to take part in the dedicated family workshops. The exhibition is being curated by Ashleigh Downey, The Ark's Visual Arts Programmer, in collaboration with the artist Terry O'Farrell.

You can also have your work showcased in The Ark gallery alongside Terry's work in an evolving exhibition open Wednesday to Sunday throughout the summer. So bring your family and friends along to see your creation on display alongside other new works which are being added to the exhibition each week.

Workshops last approximately 1 ½ hours (Toddler workshops 1 hour) each. Each week the materials with which you would be working will change.

Workshops already run include:

CLAY SCULPTURES (ran from 14-18 JULY)

This week offered the chance to learn new techniques of modelling,
sculpting, sticking, pinching and coiling to create terracotta families.

CLAY PICTURES (ran from 21-25 JULY)

Experiment with flat slabs of clay to create family drawings and cut-outs.
Working with a variety of coloured clay, using tools to scratch, cut, draw
and reshape your family images.

DRAWING (ran from 28 JULY-1 AUGUST)

A week of drawing introducing a number of different mark making tools and
techniques. Using interesting drawing methods, such as ripping, scratching,
cutting, and collaging to create flat or sculptured artworks.

PLASTER (ran from 4-8 AUGUST)

Get your fingers even dirtier as you press and pour plaster shapes to create
your ideas. For those who like to keep their hands clean there will be many
other dry materials to bring your family to life.

Workshops now taking place / coming up:

CLOTH 11-15 AUGUST

Cloth is the focus with many colourful and textured fabrics to choose from.
Let your imagination run wild as you wrap, stitch, cut, and bind cloth to
make your family. Extra decorative details can be added by stitching beads
and buttons to create figures that can stand or hang together.

MIXED MEDIA 18-22 AUGUST

A week full of infinite possibilities! Let your imagination run wild as you
rummage through lots of different materials. Make your family from many
crazy things you might find in your studio, such as shells, ping pong balls,
wire, balloons, sand or even water which you can photograph before it dries.
Why not bring in your own materials to add to what is already in the
workshop?

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Terry O'Farrell has over 25 years experience working with children and adults of all ages. She has participated in many workshop programmes in both London and Dublin, including Whitechapel Gallery, the Camden Arts Centre and Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown Arts Office. Terry facilitated workshops for Wiseways, an exhibition with IMMA's National Programme at X-PO Kilnabow, Co. Clare, which included work made by local schoolchildren and adults. She previously worked with The Ark during Earth Explorers in 2009. Terry is currently working with Creative Classrooms for Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown Arts Office as part of their artist panel. She has a great passion for the visual arts, nurturing creativity, ideas and expression and honouring the artist in everyone.

The cost is €10 / €8 per workshop.  See the website for more information.

Photo Credit: The Ark website