One-bow mold
Experimental instrument building workshop for children
On Friday18th of August 2023, a free musical instrument building workshop was opened to the public. The workshop was hosted by Garth Erasmus who shared how to make a one-line bow from bamboo and guitar strings, with children.
Supported by Franco Prinsloo (composer) and Caroline Sohie (architect), the workshop became an exciting space as the musical bows were created.
Once made, the instruments were used to explore sound with, ending with everyone playing together!
On Saturday 23 September 2023, a free experimental drawing experience was offered to children through an open public call. It was well attended and enjoyed by both the children and their parents!
The 'workshop' started with visual artist, Sonya Rademeyer, exploring different ways of mark-making on the black slate of the AVA Gallery floor ... an ideal canvas! After a series of experiments with a variety of objects, the children explored a collective and embodied drawing performance whilst bound together at their wrists. With this exploration as a portal of sorts, the floor space was opened for free gestural and intuitive drawing whilst listening to Franco Prinsloo's 40-minute composition. The challenge was to guess which musical instrument Franco had used to create his sound piece. With some prompting, the answer was revealed as "the instrument with many, many strings" ... the Harp!!
Perhaps this drawing experience is best described in what child said: "I feel different, but I don't know why ..."
The children's drawing were left untouched on the gallery floor space.
FUNDERS
with deep gratitude
