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Chinese Lantern Residency



Project Description

Chinese Lantern Residency:

In this project painting and construction of Chinese lanterns are used as vehicles for students to explore family and cultural traditions. Students begin by learning about the folk art of Chinese lanterns and the contexts in which they are used in China. Students then they draw on their own memories and interviews with family members to create the images they paint on the panels of their own lanterns.

The Chinese Lantern Residency, developed as a joint project of City Lore and PS 11 in Woodside, Queens, is an example of the long-term arts residencies City Lore brings to schools where students explore their own traditions as part of their study of another culture.

The residency made connections to the 4th grade social studies curriculum, which focused on New York State and immigration. This particular residency was made possible through an Empire State Partnership Grant. www.esp-artsed.nysed.gov

Goals

  1. To encourage students to discover and reflect on the importance of cultural traditions in their own lives and in the lives of others.
  2. To encourage students to see their own experiences and traditions as a rich source for creative expression.

Teaching Artist: George Zavala

Teaching artist George Zavala designed the Chinese lantern residency working with 4th grade teacher, Ms. Katsoulis. George is a visual and theater artist with over nine years of experience working as a teaching artist in New York City schools and community youth programs. He studied philosophy and art at Catholic University of Puerto Rico and was co-founder and artistic director of PAX Theater Company, a youth theater program in the Bronx. His work has been shown at numerous galleries in New York City.

Age Group: Grades 1 - 5

Time: Fourteen to sixteen, ninety-minute sessions

Materials:
  • Thin bamboo sticks (George took apart a roll up shade of bamboo sticks)
  • Medium weight parchment paper (Use rice paper if you can find it)
  • Acrylic paints (watered down to make them more translucent)
  • Brushes
  • Colored cloth tape or ribbon
  • Yarn and plastic beads for tassels
  • Glue
  • Strong cotton string
  • Chinese music tapes (students listened to music while they worked)