There were an array of animal clay sculptures everywhere and the children had a wonderful time looking at them with the curator during the tour.
She was full of so many interesting facts in regards to the works.
Like how the original crane sculptures were created to represent his family.
Or his love to show majestic whales in motion, either using the surface they were sitting on to represent the water they were breeching from or these bowls that are incorporated to show them swimming.
The curator also pointed out how he created a clay slab that he made into a cylinder to create his sculptures and left clues for the viewer to see his process.
This polar bear was a great example to show the kids exactly how Ben Lim began his works of art.
The curator also highlighted the textures and patterns Ben added to his sculptures and let the kids spend time discussing their own observations they discovered in the works.
Then the kids headed back to the work area and began creating their own animal sculptures inspired by the Ben Lim exhibit. We created the clay sculptures out of air dry clay and the kids all tried their hand at creating their animals using the cylinder slab.
For a couple of the younger children, this was very challenging. As I saw a couple of them getting frustrated, I quickly found some aluminum foil and gave that to them to create an armature all the while praising them for their tenacity in continuing to try the cylinder slab.
It was so interesting to see what each child took away from the curator's tour of Ben Lim's clay sculptures in their artwork.
7 year old
This child was very moved by the whale fins she saw in the exhibit, but was also obviously moved by the story the curator told about how Ben had created the crane sculptures to represent his family because there is a fin here to represent each member of her family.....the smallest fin representing her.
How wonderful is that?
This young artist was obviously paying very close attention when the curator pointed out how Ben was able to use the table surface the sculptures rest on to represent the water as this whale is coming in and out of the water.
I was so excited to watch her during the process of creating this piece.
7 year old
8 year old
6 year old
The fins were a big hit with the kids and it was interesting to watch how each interpreted Ben's textures and painting style on their own clay works.
8 year old
And we even had a child take the bowl idea and incorporate that with a fin, like I said, the fins were popular.
Then there were the animals.
12 year old
We had a lovely peacock.
9 year old
And this adorable penguin that is very reminiscent of Lim's birds she saw in the exhibit. If you look closely, you can see some of the textures she added in the wings inspired by what she saw during the tour also
12 year old
And then the lone wolf. I love that the artist was confident enough to follow her own path when everyone else was either doing whales or birds.
Once the clay was dry, the kids painting them with acrylic paint and I then set them with a high gloss varnish. They were so lovely when finished.
And without doubt, these clays were a highlight at the art show Seymour Art Gallery put on exhibiting their artworks for family and friends on the last day of camp.
How could they not be when they are so wonderful?!
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