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THIS IS MY BACKYARD - 2013-2014 - PUBLICATION

cover idea for the publication TÄMÄ ON MÏNUN TAKAPIHANI - THIS IS MY
BACKYARD
mono-print Rämälä school 1st class
The art education program TÄMÄ ON MINUN TAKAPIHANI - THIS IS MY BACKYARD has
been very successful. It has been planned as an original view on the personal
habitat of young children. After the program TÄMÄ ON MEIDÄN LUONTOMME - THIS IS
OUR NATURE it was clear that more experiences in this direction were needed. The
intention of TÄMÄ ON MÏNUN TAKAPIHANI - THIS IS MY BACKYARD was to have time to
go into the children's view and thoughts about their relation with their
habitat.
After one year the program has ended and even a continuation of it would be a
great challenge it is not possible by lack of a budget.
Over 200 children, teachers and parents have been participating in 54 workshops
during school year 2013-2014. Most subjects were presented in series of 3 or 4
workshops and most classes were visiting the art museum in Mikkeli.
During the program the development of Mikkeli countryside was a hot item. The
Mikkeli government decided to close different rural schools and VR (Finnish
Railway) decided to close different stops at small villages. It is difficult to
explain to children that a healthy and well-being country side has no economic
value.
THE BOOK
This publication will be the second volume in our art and nature
project. It is intend to document and visualize the contemporary
history of rural regions by the view of children. These children are
the future generation and have their roots in rural landscape and
nature. It is valuable and important to understand the way these
roots are part of the development and surviving of people in rural
regions. Since nature is vital for every human being, we investigate
how everyone can be part of the natural elements.
In the book we will connect visually and textual the different
layers of our experiences and survey during the implementation of
the main program.
It concerns the following main aspects:
- a. creative and artistic processes of children and their
imagination of their native habitat
- b. landscape, nature and historical characteristics as part of a
contemporary rural society
- c. unconventional topographic mapping of a rural region
- d. art and poetry classes to explore a rural habitat
In the book we plan to give attention to the development of the
landscape and history, and the way children experience their native
habitat. By going out of the childlike approach it is possible to
find new ways to explore the value of the rural landscape and
nature. By connecting the childlike imagination to the own
perception the user of the book can go exploring unexpected rural
areas.
Therefore the book will be based on the art works and texts of
children, their parents, visual artists, writers, historians,
teachers, and others relevant to the content. These artistic
expressions are part of the study how the relationship between the
habitat in early childhood effects the way reality is experienced
later. The book will explain both illustrate the influence of their
habitat on children.
By documenting some characteristics from the past, both the
landscape and population concerning, can give contemporary
traditions a different meaning.
The book is intended to develop a methodical approach for art
lessons about this subject which can be added to the school
curriculum.
The involved experts in the field of art, art education, poetry and
history shall contribute to a high quality of the content of the
publication. They are invited to pay attention to unexpected
perspectives on the selected topics.
As soon as AREFS is able to cover the cost of the publication
they will start with the editing of the book.
CONTENT OF THE BOOK
It is the intention to use different points of view to cross border
fixed opinions.
HISTORAL CHARACTERISTICS THE RURAL REGION CONCERNING
population
agriculture
forestry
domestication
infrastructure
LANDSCAPE/GEOLOGY CHARACTERISTICS THE AREA CONCERNING
forest
fields
lakes
rocks
swamps
ART EDUCATION/METHODICAL APPROACH
painting
printing
drawing
poetry
TARGET GROUP
The book will be accessible and valuable for a diverse audience.
children and parents
teachers
artists
government/officials
researchers
visitors
BOOK INFO
size 250x250 mm
pages about 250
full color
hard cover
satin paper
text in English and Finnish
35€/copy reduction by larger amounts
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