25 students spent the morning learning about SCAPEart works in Christchurch and how to create a cyanotype.

Josie Whelan, the Education & Community Engagement Manager from SCAPE public art, 

http://www.scapepublicart.org.nz/

came to talk to us about some of the sculptures SCAPE is responsible for in Christchurch.  Many of you will be familiar with  Flour Power, Nucleus and Fanfare, to name but a few. We looked at Tree House for Swamp Dwellers by Julia Morison. Her interest in the environment inspired our Cyanotype artworks

http://www.scapepublicart.org.nz/treehouses-for-swamp-dwellers/

Fiona Taylor

The Heaton art connoisseurs (aka some Year 7 and Year 8 Heaton students) were invited to a special treat on the 7th of November 2017. In the later hours of the morning, we travelled from our various places dotted around the school to the Art room. When we got there, we were introduced to two lovely ladies: one was the Education & Community Engagement Manager, Josie Whelan, and the other was Rama Port from the Canterbury Museum. 

They showed us pictures of some of the public art we see around Christchurch like the Playful Snake sculpture near the Margaret Mahy Playground.

The sculpture Josie focused on and talked to us about for our project was The Tree Houses for Swamp Dwellers by Julia Morrison. She explained to us the importance of the sculpture and the interesting aspects including the lights, aesthetics, and the meaning. 

Then came learning to make Cyanotypes, an early photographic process. We were given a special U.V. sensitive paper on which we designed an arrangement of plants. When we had finished our masterpieces, we carried them carefully outside to let the reactions begin. The UV light of the sun made all the areas on the paper that were not covered turn dark blue in a matter of minutes. Then we quickly placed them in buckets of water. This reverses the colours on the paper and finishes the process. After patting the cyanotype artworks dry and letting them dry, Josie and Rana gave us some interesting booklets including an activity booklet on the wetland sculpture, a map of where all the public art is in the city, and an activity booklet on all the public art in the city. We then said our farewells and thanked them for the awesome opportunity to explore art in Christchurch and learn a new art technique.

Elle-Roze, Room 18