Last spring the carving group that I carve with asked me to facilitate an event. They would “help” but did not want to be in charge.
It was a one hour program that should appeal to young potential carvers ages 8 and older. It was part of an Art and Design Summer program sponsored by the Library.
Carving as art is hard to teach to a group of wiggly giggly kids.
We decided to have a display and let them see what we had carved out of wood and to let them carve Ivory soap.
I collected patterns, soap and fashioned some tools that would work to carve soap. A whole package of plastic silverware was modified. Parts were cut off and smoothed out to make various knives, scoops and pointy cutters. Far Guy buffed them all so the edges were not overly sharp…they would really have to work at it to draw blood.
20 kids signed up and 17 showed up. Good thing I had many helpers.
This little girl carved a canoe.
A flower
And the star pupil of the day carved a snow bunny! He asked me to take his photo with his carvings and his carving tools.
I covered their work spaces with wax paper, one little boy kept moving down the table to a clean spot. Another little boy told me he was an artist and could do a complicated carving and he would need no help from me. ( He was a turd.)
The girls carved hearts, flowers and lady bugs. The boys mostly turtles and the snow bunny and a dog/whale/fish…it kept changing.
Most of the adult carvers made the rounds encouraging and offering assistance and they all helped me clean up…cause there was soap pretty much everywhere.
It was a good afternoon.
Dr Bill brought a First Aid Kit just in case, he also offered to give them real knives…which I kindly declined.
What a great idea! Looks like a lot of fun and might end up being a life-long hobby for some of these young folks.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a wonderful idea and fun was had by all.
ReplyDeleteThe next generation of carvers is born, thanks to you! What a totally cool thing to do. And I do like that snow bunny. :-)
ReplyDeleteA great opportunity for the kids! I can imagine with all the soap flakes, the area was much cleaner when you left than when you arrived. 😉
ReplyDeleteSnow bunny, what an imagination. That kid's got possiblilites as an artist!
ReplyDeleteSooooo... inquiring minds want to know, how did the "complicated carving" turn out?
ReplyDeleteNeat idea with the plastic cutlery and soap, definitely safer for kids!
It went from a dog to a whale to a fish :)
DeleteLook how proud that young man is in the last photo!!! The picture you took of all of them carving makes it look like they are really engrossed in their activity. Regarding the "turd" - - - I can about guarantee he is a first-born - - or the first boy - - - or the first child born after a few years of the other siblings. They all qualify for first-born status (according to BIRTH ORDER book).
ReplyDeleteWhen I was our church librarian, I found that you could NOT suggest a book to a first-born. They would not even consider looking at it to see if they would like it - - - - and I knew they would. We just gave up on those hard-headed kids and let them figure it out the hard way - - but they drove us crazy if we let them. You just wanted to "box their ears".
You and your helpers deserve an award or a pat on the back for sure for introducing the children to this art! It will take root in one or more of them.
I am a first born, and was NOT like that at all! :-)
DeleteWhat a nice thing for you to do!!
ReplyDeleteLooks like they had a blast! A lot of work, but it looks like it was fun for you and the helpers, too. Love that proud young man's photo!! :)
ReplyDeleteVery neat! We used to whittle sticks with a girl scout knife. I don't remember any injuries. Just lucky, I guess, or more careful?
ReplyDeleteSounds like a fun time for all, and just for an hour, that is doable, you can put up with a turd for an hour, just! ;-) I'm assuming he is the one that made the dog/whale/fish? Now if it was me cleaning up, I'd be collecting all the soap flakes to use as...soap!
ReplyDeleteGood for you doing a carving session with kids. who knows ? The "turd" may become a great carver later on in life. Seeds are planted with these programs.
ReplyDeleteWhat great fun for the kids . I think more kids these days need to learn a craft or two with their hands instead of being in front of the TV or game box of some kind or some kind of electronic devise all the time . Yes Karen I would to be collecting all the soap flakes to use lol ! Thanks for sharing , lovely post and photos . Have a good day !
ReplyDeleteYou came up with a safe, fun way to teach carving to kids! Well done!
ReplyDeleteLooks like fun. I will tell the Community Services staff about it. They are always looking for new art activities for children.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful to introduce this art to the young. You never know who might love it and have a lifelong hobby as a result or become a famous carver or sculptor some day! The snow bunny is excellent! I could not even come close to that one!
ReplyDelete