Recommend a friend!

In the meantime, for inspiration to get you drawing, check out the video below of Eric Carle talking about his new book, The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse, launched just in time with our Big Draw theme of Fantastical Creatures at the Singapore Zoo on November 19th. It embodies the spirit of Playeum’s Big Draw campaign, and applies to the grown ups just as much!

Download programme details here.

With artists Annabel Ling and Jeremy Chu and friends of Playeum, the Play Museum also touched on environmental ownership and conservation. This is where children and parents were seen in-touch with nature and their environment!

Re-forest or De-forest by Annabel Ling

In Re-forest or De-forest, multifaceted artist Annabel Ling led parents and children into constructing their own trees in a bid to save Playeum’s forest. Using au naturel and paper-inspired materials like paper boxes, scrap and recycled papers, newspapers and dried leaves, children played the role of the creator who aspire to reforest a piece of land that were once bare and infertile! With a collaborated effort of families and Playeum, a total of twenty trees were successfully mounted and brought to life with hand-drawn-and-painted forest animals including butterflies and birds.

In this interactive art play, children were made aware of nature’s beauty and the significance of reforestation to save the earth. By portraying this scenario, children build upon an understanding of eco-balance that Man needs to achieve.

A potential of being the destroyer of forests, children were then led to a scene of logging and deforestation when Playeum eventually brought the trees down at the end of the art activity. Here, children pondered on the consequences of such forest destruction and the effects it had on animals that depended on the wild wilderness for their homes.

Annabel Ling, who is also a preschool educator, explained such interaction and experience through Playeum’s hands-on activity has its benefits on children. “The effect of deforestation and logging in action is a practical way to explain to kids about the possible dangers that befall on nature and mankind. Done through a fun and creative way, kids learn and develop a sense of appreciation for the environment and reflect on ways to care for nature.”

Check out the pictures on:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/playeum/5522476545/

Spheres of Colour by Jeremy Chu

Imagine weaving bamboo stems to construct larger-than-life sized spheres with people who you have never met before! Parents and children did just that in Spheres of Colour, an art station led by artist Jeremy Chu who inspired the community to come together to assemble ten astronomical-yet-sturdy bamboo spheres in their aspiration to showcase teamwork and dedication of an integral community.

Using cable tires and rubber bands to secure the spheres’ structures, Jeremy Chu explains the concept behind Spheres of Colour. “Essentially, this activity aims to bring collective people – young and old – together where despite individual’s cultural differences; we, as a community, can construct a framework symbolising everlasting friendship and connections with one another.”

Children also had the chance to use enormous leaves of many kinds including lotus, coconut and palm leaves as a canvass to paint their personality and artistic expressions with a myriad of colours. Attaching these newly-painted leaves onto the spheres, children were seen beaming with pride as the leaves screamed a splash of vibrant hues. Not only did the artful activity encouraged children to illustrate their own individual expressions, Spheres of Colour motivated children to think outside-the-box in utilising leaves as materials other then the ordinary drawing board to paint. “This way, kids are given the opportunity to think art in alternative and creative means to express their artwork on different canvasses.” Jeremy Chu said.

Taking ownership of the natural environment was also another highlight of the Spheres of Colour where children, given the opportunity to pick up and hold a leaf as something dearly to their hearts, were seen making personal connections with nature and greenery. Through this simple-yet-impactful exercise, children were encouraged to re-think the environment and what role they can play as a citizen of the Earth in ensuring their garden city thrive in time to come.

Check out the pictures on:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/playeum/5522468653/

Nature’s River by Playeum

In this participatory art station, children played the role of sailors and captains of their ships as they set their sailboats embarking on an imaginary journey of clear blue sea filled with sea creatures of fishes, sea eels and crustaceans! Before bidding their boats bon voyage, children were taught to fold their boats the origami way. To customize them further, children decorated their prized items by drawing and colouring a riot of colours onto their sailboats. Finally a boat to call their own, children set their sailboats cruising on the blue sea!