Grade One on an Adventures in Asia tour at the Art Gallery of New South Wales
Debbie Bourke, Danebank School Class Teacher.During Term Two 2004 Grade One from Danebank School visited the Art Gallery of New South Wales to experience real Japanese artwork. Discoveries that involved making activities and learning about some traditional elements in Japanese art linked with the school's LOTE focus - Japanese. The making activities were planned and carried out to fulfil the Creative Arts K-6 syllabus outcome of VAS1.2- uses the forms to make artworks according to varying requirements. The technique of decoupage imitated the method used in Japanese lacquer ware and the use of the bamboo brush and ink, writing seasonal characters in the tradition of Japanese calligraphy, prepared the children for some real art objects they were to encounter in the gallery space. Images from the Adventures in Asia education kit as well as pictures from my own collection were placed on display to give the children time to reflect on these before their visit. The anticipated day of the excursion arrived and entering the Art Gallery there were lots of 'oohs' and 'aahs' at the monumental size of the building itself. We stored our bags on a lower level and were greeted by the team of Volunteer Guides who each took a small group of about nine children with a teacher or parent-helper accompanying them. The guides were full of information and my particular group were led into the new Asian Galleries encountering artefacts from countries such as India and China along the way. In particular our guide listened to the comments of the children and gave information in relation to the artworks as she explained some interesting details about the collections of ceramics, paintings, sculptures and other decorative arts. The children were keen to point out anything that resembled calligraphy (as we had learned about this at school) on Japanese swords, hanging scrolls and paintings. Our guide had a collection of objects such as a calligraphy set that the children could handle and were given the opportunity to copy some of the characters seen on the scrolls using crayon and paper. Conversation amongst the children completing this task extended the experience and connection with the artworks even more. One of the features in the Asian Galleries was the Japanese tea room. All the children were interested and would have liked a turn… perhaps this would be arranged on another visit. The cabinet just across from the tea room held some utensils used in the tea ceremony that greatly interested the children and promoted lots of talk about their function as well as their variety of shapes and textures. At the completion of the tour all the groups assembled again to collect our bags. Each group had different stories to tell about what they had experienced and learned about Asian art. Our day was completed by lunch across the road in the Royal Botanic Garden and a walk through the Oriental Garden. The visit to the Art Gallery had been as the syllabus states a 'culturally rich and imaginative learning experience' and fulfilled the outcome VAS1.4- Begins to interpret the meaning of artworks, acknowledging the roles of artist and audience. The experience of seeing real art objects led to activities back at school such as story writing and the drawing of favourite or memorable pieces. Information on holiday workshops and weekend activities in the Gallery were sent home with the children. It was hoped that they would make a return visit with their families broadening their appreciation of the aesthetic beyond that of a school experience. | 
