KNYSNA NEWS - About 50 learners of Knysna Primary and Trinity School created some pieces of sidewalk chalk art along the pavements surrounding the Old Gaol Museum in Queen Street on Monday 23 June.
This heritage programme, a collaboration between the Ubumama Outdoor School Education Programme, Knysna Municipality, several libraries and the Gaol Museum, featured chalk drawing pavement art, the discussion of the KhoiSan prehistory and Knysna's historic timber industry and development.
The learners from these two schools met at the museum early in the morning. They started drawing on the pavements under supervision of their teachers and retired artist Olivier Raichen.
The programme's organiser, Sarah Mackie, also a director of Ubumama, said their purpose was to reintroduce the environment and interaction with the natural world to children.
"My purpose for this was to connect with children from various Knysna schools, to bring our Knysna heritage and history in our arts and culture back into our lives. We brought these learners together to interact in a creative way, and for them to feel that art and culture are alive in our town."
She approached various schools, but not all of them were able to attend. The municipality, Lunchbox Theatre and other stakeholders were also invited and were present on the day. The museum prepared the venue and at the end of the programme, the Lunchbox Theatre entertained the kids with a play called Tree Planting.
"We really hope we can offer this again and possibly turn it into something that becomes a regular feature. We would also like to have more schools involved, as well as more artists. I've taken every opportunity to make this happen.
"Beautiful rainbow colours and imaginative ideas began to form and come forth from the children's minds. Knysna's sea life, butterflies and exquisite designs began to grow all over the Old Gaol Museum's pavements. The passers-by were fascinated by this novel event," said Mackie.
Raichen said he was there to help the kids with their drawings. "Everything ran smoothly here today. This is an awareness for children that they can do art. They do not just have to sit at home and watch TV all the time. You can go outside and have fun doing art."
All the pavements around the museum were colourful by the end of the day.
Lilian Mells, one of the kids, was excited about the project. "It was great doing this; we enjoyed it and had fun."
Ffion Mentor, another learner, said the programme taught them to be creative and to express Knysna and its characteristics with drawings.
"We also enjoyed the performance by Lunchbox afterwards."
Knysna Municipality's co-ordinator for outreach projects for library services, Zoliswa Mphekeleni, said the programme was about art and how to have children understand the town's history. "I highly appreciate everyone involved here for their efforts. It was a great educational programme for the kids."
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