Expert: MaryAnn F. Kohl - 8/21/2005

Question
Dear MaryAnn,

I am looking for a short project which blends language and art into a make- and- take project for ages 5-10.  I program art and science activities for a children's museum, and our theme for the day is language, focusing on spanish, english and American sign language.  Can you please advise?

Thank you,

Liz

Answer
Hi, Liz. This is a bit out of my area...

Maybe some kind of a "mirror" approach...
LIke, using a word like flower.
Fold the paper in half.
Draw, paint, or collage a flower on one half, and again, on the other half.
Work the English word flower into one half.
Work the Spanish word for flower into the other half.

Or simply take two words, one in Spanish and one in English, and also sign language, and work them all into a bright abstract design.

VERY simple is a collage where all the items are labeled in fun ways with different langages.

ANY art project can have different languages represented in it.

Hey, how about tracing one's own hand in a sign language position to mean love or another term, and then write that same word all over the paper in English and Spanish, and draw all kinds of things that go with that word?

I'm sorry I don't have more to suggest at this time. I've never brought art and language together before, but it's an interesting approach.

MaryAnn Kohl
www.brightring.com