Art
For the Sky is an exciting week-long residency for entire schools (or shorter for festivals, conferences, etc.) that combines art, music, math, history, psychology, and science in an unforgettable way. It is a magical, outdoor, ecological experience for all ages with teachings that last a lifetime. The adventure culminates in a gigantic living painting upon the school's athletic field colored and shaped by the living forms of participants often along with materials such as thrift shop clothing, leaves, shredded bark and recyclables. Thousands of children and teachers across the country have enjoyed this experience and their words bear witness to the wonder and lessons this way of art has to offer.
Creating sky art is essentially, a math problem. From a "thumbnail creation," the figure chosen is transformed to GIANT SIZE (generally 150 x 150ft.) through an ancient technique called "enlarging from scale".
Sometimes recycled materials, leaves or thrift shop clothing
are used to add detail to the image. Each morning an Art
For the Sky leader (Sky Captain) shares interactive multi-media visual presentations with grouped classes which explore the remarkable history of this art form and the valuable teachings it has to offer our world. Information about the plight of the creature or importance of the symbol we are creating are shared with all participants. The presentations include the learning of one of Art For the Sky founder, Daniel Dancer's original songs about awakening our "sky sight." In the afternoons, the Sky Captain works with selected children in laying out the image on the field.
Thursday is Event Day! Participants, wearing their special t-shirts (optional), come together as "color dots" on the image charging it with life and beauty. The
Sky Captain photographs, films and directs the project with
a megaphone from a tall (usually donated) bucket-truck. On
Friday, images are shared during an assembly with a special
presentation that includes a school-wide sing-along of Wings To Fly or other song chosen for the event. The school is furnished with a cd of images, a DVD of the final assembly presentation film and a large display print which becomes part of the school's history. Media loves this work and a photo story almost always lands on the front pages of the local newspaper (see some headlines).
"This was the best field trip I've ever been on!"
--Mimi Hoffman, Principal, Manatee Elementary, Port St. Lucie, Florida
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