More workshop and lectures attended during the Future Generations conference.
Masks are a wide medium of expression, from actors wearing them and becoming the new subject, to shamanistic rituals, collages of expression, sculptures, guardians of privacy, etc.
We had some magnificent and captivating masks made by our tutor for the day and tutor in Fine Art James Green who’s mask cross between a sculpture, painting or collage.
We’re invited to create our own masks from a paper, masking tape and charcoal – a bit random coming from the elaborate and colourful masks presented.
Having about an hour or less I just started playing with the paper, creating a tube and trying to make the insert for head in the bottom. This actually gave possibility for the mask to turn around and have multiple faces – with the sides of the tube or hollow ends.
In the time I managed to create quickly 3 different faces for the mask with drawing and cutting out pieces as well as ripping the paper to create a face like features.
Another workshop looked at power of mindful meditation and the scientific health benefits of focus, relaxation and reflection; as well as possibility for our creative work, as in ‘flow’ or complete absorption in what we do.
“Flow is completely focused motivation. It is a single-minded immersion… The hallmark of flow is a feeling of spontaneous joy, even rapture, while performing a task although flow is also described as a deep focus on nothing but the activity – not even oneself or one’s emotions.”
The lecture explaining what meditation and the flow is and how can it be achieved followed with short observational meditation of some dried leaves and plants, even drawing them but not braking our gaze with the objects. At the end we had a longer mindfulness meditation where we observed our breath as a point of focus.
I felt relaxed and refreshed, and as very casual practitioner of meditation (5 min few times a week), I agree with the positive aspects of this quiet time of reflection and focus.
My last lecture was on importance of nature in our, and mostly children’s lives. The lecture looked at examples of how art, design and technology can bring more nature in our lives.
There were many examples of art and design being cautious of nature and our relationship with it.
However, I enjoyed listening to the second lecturer from Cardiff School of Education, about her play forest project created at the Cyncoed campus where children can explore, play and learn interactively in a forest are, with workshops happening weekly for the local kids.
I would like to get involved, and think how can I use my newly acquired knowledge in ceramics to deliver a informative workshop and play to children; to teach them something new, as well as deepen their relationship with nature and the outdoors.
Ceramic Líška 