Len Lye's Sculptures

St. George's, St. Thomas' and Osborne met up again at Osborne.

After looking at Len Lye's sculptures, we created a dance where we ended up in a human sculpture. As you can see Emma is really enjoying it!

Then we used lots of interesting materials to create kinetic sculptures. We also thought hard about the sounds they might make.

Everyone worked really hard and were very creative!! Here they are evaluating the sculptures they produced.

Len Lye Exhibition Visits

"I thought the Len Lye exhibition was fantastic because the models he made were moving. When I saw the universe it just made me feel happy. I loved this exhibition"

Huda, Year4 Osborne

"The exhibition made me think about movement. I then started to make a moviemaker video. It was about football and I put a lot of emphasis on the movements of the players."

Shiloh Year5 Osborne

"I liked the Fountain the best because it inspired me so much."
Amy year4 Osborne

"I really liked the exhibition, it inspired me because of how colourful it was. I loved how he used the patterns in the right place at the right time."

Georgia year 5 Osborne

Insiders Exhibition 2011

So the weekend just gone was the exhibition of artwork made by the Insiders schools featuring the 16mm film inspired by A Colourbox. We had Scott the projectionist operating the projector and showing everyone how it worked and how to cut and splice the film, he seemed to be a big hit. To accompany the film were various instruments so that we could devise a live and improvised musical score, very fitting for Lye.

We had over 400 visitors who came to see our film and many of those were Ikon Insiders and their families! If you didn't make it below are some images.

Osborne Love Len Lye

The children from Year 4 have put together this slideshow of images of the work they have made at school after visiting Ikon's Len Lye exhibition The Body Electric

Children's Arts Award Filmakers

Today we made a short dancing ribbon film, acetate dancing people and lots of prints.

Below you can see some of our films!

St George's Blog Post, Len Lye's Kinetic Art

The film above is exciting and kinetic. We made it by using sticks and ribbons dancing and filmed it with the PSP. It was non-stop ribbons dancing for life.

Ribbons were going fast and slow

When the ribbons were shaking they looked like magical ribbons

Omari, Arantxa, Ryan, Imane and Gaby

Len Lye's pictures of movements

"Len Lye's pictures were always moving"..... Jessica


"When Len Lye makes his pictures all the time moving".... Dvarnay


"When Lye Lye is doing moving art it always looks old"...Quante

Ribbon Dance!

The Ikon Insiders Childrens Arts Award group are having so much fun today making short films inspired by Len Lye's Rainbow Dance and A Colour Box. Take a look!


Below are some close ups of the 16mm film that we have been making with Emma at the Ikon.

Children's Arts Award

We have just had a fantastic planning meeting with Mrs Gibson from St Thomas' and Mrs Griffiths from Osbornes for our Childrens Art Day on Monday. 5 children from the 3 schools will be spending a day together to make some artwork together in response to the Len Lye exhibition that we have all been to visit at Ikon.

The children are really looking forward to meeting the children from the other schools.

Len Lye

We really liked the Len Lye exhibition

Osborne Teachers Visit Ikon

All the teachers were really excited to see the Len Lye show. "There is a lot of potential for exciting follow up activities at school and the children will love Len's work!" Mrs Griffiths.

Len Lye

Year 2 from St Thomas' kick off the third year of Ikon Insiders with a really fun visit to see the work of New Zealand artist Len Lye. He made kinetic or 'moving' sculptures and beautiful experimental films by painting directly onto the film itself and so he had no need to use a camera!

As you can see from these stills, many of his films are very colourful and he liked to use lots of colour and pattern.

Wood and Harrison

Children from St George's exploring the Wood and Harrison exhibition in 2009

Children's Arts Awards

Today we are off to find out about the Children's Arts Award for children aged 7-11.  We are hoping that during this 3rd year of the Ikon Insiders at least 5 children from each of the primary schools will put together a sketchbook portfolio that will earn them this special award of recognition for all of their hard work and enjoyment of the arts. In order to achieve this award they will need to do four things:

1. Take part in an arts activity
2. Explore the arts
3. Be an arts detective
4. Take the lead on an arts activity

This award is a new addition to the national Arts Award scheme for young people aged 11-24.

Insiders 3rd Year

Can't wait to see the exciting work made this year as part of Ikon Insiders!

Ikon Insiders Showcase

Teachers and friends at the launch of the Ikon Insiders Showcase Weekend at Ikon in May 2010.