Art
For the Sky is a magical, boundary disolving, outdoor, ecological, team-building experience for all ages with teachings that last a lifetime. The adventure culminates in a gigantic-living-painting colored and shaped by the living forms of participants. Many thousands of children and teachers world-wide have enjoyed this experience and their words bear witness to the wonder and lessons this unforgetable way of art has to offer.
Students displaying the plastic bottles they collected before making the
astronaut's clear helmet shield.
Creating sky art is essentially, a math problem. From a "thumbnail creation," the figure chosen is transformed to GIANT SIZE (generally 80ft X 100ft or thereabouts) through an ancient technique called "enlarging from scale".
Mulch, recycled materials, leaves and fabric
are often used to add detail and color to the image.
On Day 1, Daniel shares his 40-minute multi-media visual presentation in a school-wide assembly (Zoom assemblies possible as well) which covers: a) our relationship with the sky; b) the remarkable history and ancient roots of this art form; c) the Six Teachings; d) information about the logistics of the project. The presentation ends with a rousing 8 minute musical "teaching" video called "Get Your Skysight On" which gets everyone really excited about the next day's big event!. You can watch it here:
After the assembly, Daniel works with 4 selected children for 30 minutes in laying out the image grid on the field. After the outline of the design has been sketched on the field, shifts of students in two groups of 8 come out and help spread the materials (soil, sand, mulch, leaves, recyclables, clothing, etc.) which are being used in the design. Five 5-gallon buckets or school waste-baskets and a leaf rake are generally all that is needed for this work. This is a great exercise in collaboration and experiencing the age old truism that, "many hands make small work!"
Event Day is Day 2. In the morning, a pre-selected small group helps tweak the details of the design. Daniel meets with 4-8 parent volunteers, which I call Sky Captains, 30 minutes before the event (usually held right after lunch) to go over their responsibilities in helping to place the students in the design. As the 45 minute event begins, participants, wearing their colored shirts, come together class by class as "color dots" on the image charging it with life and beauty. Daniel directs the project on the ground filming with a drone. The school principal or designated teacher mans the megaphone and directs the students as per Daniel's instructions as he films. Ideally, one or two on the ground volunteer-photographers take digital (horizontal only please) pictures for potential inclusion in the project film.
Students waving to the drone above them
One-Minute-Of-Silence - Something unique and truly beautiful concludes each event. Having taken the offical "Art For the Sky Vow of One-Minute-Of-Silence" during the initial assembly, the entire school honors this at the end of their time on the field. In silence, with heads bowed and hands upon the Earth, it is amazing to behold and experience . . . a never to be forgotten moment!
On the morning of Day 3, the musical project video Daniel has put together is shared during a morning assembly. When the image is revealed everyone goes a bit crazy. Almost always there are tears of joy on teachers faces. Media loves this work and a photo story often lands on the front pages of the local newspaper or on TV (see some headlines), so be sure to contact them ahead of time or send a press release and picture afterwards!
Sample schedule from which to make plans.
"This was the best field trip I've ever been on!"
--Mimi Hoffman, Principal, Manatee Elementary, Port St. Lucie, Florida
The school receives a digital file of the project film (see samples in the video gallery) and the best still image to enlarge and display on a school wall. Sometimes schools give everyone a memento of the project!
|
