Cultural Arts Day
The project culminated in a Cultural Arts Day in July 2009.
Lonesome school hosted the event and students from schools in
the East Mitcham Primary Cluster were invited to join Lonesome
Primary school for craft sessions in late July 2009.
Students from the local secondary schoool, Harris Academy, acted
as roving reporters at the event for the local magazine My
Merton.
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Students spent half a day creating craft inspired by different cultures. In the background you can see some reporters from the local secondary school, Harris Academy.
Children at the Cultural Arts Day in Lonesome Primary School
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Students tried their hand at traditional Chinese calligraphy using ink and a brush. This activity was inspired by ancient calligraphy seen at the British Museum and the practise words were supplied by a parent of Chinese heritage at Lonesome Primary.
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They shaped and decorated their own blue and white vases inspired by the Chinese porcelain vases on display at the British Museum.
Boy painting a vase
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These masks were based on the ones in the Africa Gallery at the Museum. Plenty of different materials were available to make colourful African masks.
Students making masks
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Masks can be used at lots of different occasions, including religious festivals, funerals and birthdays.
Girl sticking a mask together
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Using real fabrics for inspiration, students design and paint their own fabric patterns.
Students painting fabric
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Every design is different.
Lots of students painting
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Actual henna hand decorating was on offer from one of the Lonesome parents of Indian heritage while these students have a go at creating their own hand and feet decoration patterns.
Henna designs on hands
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This display of objects from India was brought in by one of the families of Indian heritage at the school.
Display of Indian objects
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These lavender bags were inspired by the Traveller community in Merton. Travellers have a long history in the borough and often worked in the lavender and watercress industries.
Students making lavendar bags
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The students made small lavender bags.
Students making lavendar bags
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The school borrowed objects to display on the Cultural Arts Day from the Sutton and Merton Traveller Education Service. The schools also borrowed African objects from Merton Heritage Services.
Objects on display
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When the day was over, everybody had something to take home which represented their own handy work and the different cultures of students at Lonesome Primary School.
Students holding up their craft products
Final thoughts
I feel that the Cultural Arts Day went really well. I
liked it when we went to the British Museum to see all those
interesting artefacts. I think the pictures that were taken were
magnificent. I have learnt so much about art from around the world.
Thank you for coming to our school.
Albert, aged 9
I am glad our class went to the British Museum. I
think the Cultural Arts Day was a great success. I learnt a lot
from the visit to the British Museum. I thought the African masks
we made were beautiful and the calligraphy was interesting."
Demi, aged 8
I enjoyed the British Museum
when Ash class went to see the Chinese pottery and the African
artefacts, they were very pretty. The Cultural Arts Day was fun and
enjoyable, especially making the beautiful masks and I thought
every one did a great job.
Shineha, aged 8 ¾
Objects for the Cultural Arts Day were loaned by Merton Heritage
Centre and Sutton and Merton
Traveller Education Service.