Takaka Primary School creating mosaic tiles for Art Walk

After developing the Rototai Art Walk to the stage that finishing touches were at hand I decided to approach the principal at Takaka Primary School being less than a kilometre away to create mosaic tiles to line the 200m  edge of the cycle / art walk.

Neil, the principal, was excited of the proposal and set the next two terms every Friday that I would take a morning class and personally connect with all the 174 students who did wonders along with their teachers including Neil. We would make the tile (two each -one to take home the other to gift to a public space) on a Friday then I'd take them home over the weekend to dry and clean up cracks and chips and engrave their initials on the right corner. They were all so eager for the presentation on the Mondays or Tuesdays.

It was a great success and you can see from these photos, the workshops I can recommend to any school to gain early creative skills that can be always used throughout their lives.

great result from yrs 1  six year olds

Before Taking you through the process lets have a look at the completed project back at the Art Walk. Having their initials engraved they can come years down the track and even show their Grandchildren what they did back in 2009.

Can't get the three sets to fit in one line so at 3am I give it in, catch ya Ray later in morning?????????
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For those interested in the making of the tiles continue on in the workshop. There is an Art to it as in everything.

As a template we used the polystyrene meat trays that many household had for a regular size and shape and easy to handle and recycle.Firstly we place a sheet of white paper down inside the tray, I ask the children to close their eye for a few second and focus on the white blank , (this empties their busty minds and calls in silence) and allow an image , patterns or symbols to pop in. Then in ten seconds to open their eyes and create. ALWAYS they jump straight into something as you have seen.

On the paper you make up any design the way you want it to be. Once happy you place a sheet of sticky wall paper paper over it rub in then turn over so the final tiles are face down, which will be the front surface.
 From here you place a sheet of plastic or wire mesh to act as reinforcement. Now its ready for the coloured cement mix.

Coloured oxiides you purchase from buildering suppliers e.g ITM. We choose which colour suit what design and place tile in that colour zone with the student initial on paper on tile for identification.

At the school this stage took us up to the morning break when I'd mix four buckets of coloured cement for the pouring, often I would thankfully have my assistant Lorraine to help who also donated her time and energy every Friday morning.

It was important to spread the mix well into the tiles not to leave air pockets, and bubble will occur so once filled we lift and drop like one does with cakes before baking to airout the bubbles.

 With a nail I would then srib their initials from the paper on the back so later I can engrave it in the front once cured.