Ipswich Art Gallery - Mirror Exhibition

After spending a good few hours in the morning sun, getting up close and personal with some of our native wildlife we ventured indoors to the Ipswich Art Gallery.

In the entrance we were all enthralled by this enormous Kaleidoscope. See the little camera on the top left catching all of the images. Every move, wiggle, jump or hop was caught and projected onto the screen.

The main reason we visited the Art Gallery today was to see the Jeannie Baker Mirror Exhibition.

On first entering the area I thought this would end up being one those super quick visits, until we took the time to look more closely.

The exhibition showcases the artwork from Jeannie's book "Mirror". This artwork is paperpiecing at it's finest, truly magnificent. I was first introduced to paper piecing when I began scrapbooking Lego Lover's baby photo's, it was a simple yet effective way to embellish the pages.

Jennie's paper piecings are so inspiring. Lego Lover and myself spent our entire visit wondering just how long each one of the pieces would have taken to create. The photographs really do not do them justice.

It didn't take everyone long to find themselves seated at the creating area. Lego Lover was enthralled with the images in the book. Hence this is on our current wish list of books to buy.

Little Surfer Dude is in an amazing cutting sensory period. I mean he is literally cutting everything. So whilst he did create, his piece didn't last long enough for me to photograph it!

Whilst Lego Lover was extremely impressed with the artwork he chose to wait until he has the book in his hot little hands (at home) so he can study the images more, before tackling any kind of intricate design work.....yes true perfectionist here (anyone else have one of those).

He ended up with a simple but playful one eyed monster. I believe it was the use of sticky tape as the only option that held him back from trying other creations

Little Princess Girl, however was full of concentration whilst working on her piece. Torn waves, teeny, tiny fish and crabs. This really caught her attention and she immersed herself fully in the activity.

I do believe that this particular exhibition has now finished, it is however travelling the country so be on the lookout for it at a gallery near you.

What a day in Ispwich, it was huge but lots of fun.

We visited the Nature Centre
Called into the Enviromental Centre
Played in Queens Park 
Finished up here at the Gallery.

We still have a few others thing to see in do in Ipswich, maybe another day.

Highlights From The Week

~ B is 8 years ~

~ K is 5 years ~

~ Cbub is 15 months ~

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Cbub has had a full on practical life week. He's been a cleaning freak! Every single time I had something out, whether it was the vacuum, mop, duster, broom he wanted to use it. He actually did a pretty good job with a few things. He's been fairly proficient with a cloth and wiping up spills for a while now.

He loved mummy's new Enjo cloth. He thought his blocks needed a bit of sprucing up.



B went over the Blue Series beginning blends from Montessori For Everyone.




He whipped up this dinosaur whilst we were waiting at Daddy's office the other day. He's kinda funky don't you think? I could see him in a children's picture book story.



Cbub with the broom this time. He knew exactly what to do and wasn't fussed at all that it was far too big for him. He actually preferred using it on the carpet where it was so much harder to push...go figure!


Cbub finished off this little under water sticker collage, with blue chalk for the water, whilst B and K completed their Ocean Lapbooks we started whilst on holidays. (post to come on that)



He also had his first water colour painting experience this week. The first couple of minutes all he wanted to do was lick the brush and paint his hand but he eventually got the hang of it and completed 2 masterpieces. He knew when he needed more paint on his brush and kept asking for more.


We had our monthly Art Gallery workshop with our Homeschool Network. The exhibition this time around was inspired by all things Tartan. B created the tartan look collage, the photo really doesn't do it justice, all of that shiny card is quite impressive looking.

This workshop didn't really interest K so she chose just to complete a colouring page. They always have simple activities out that are related in some way to the exhibition, for any of the children that choose not to do the workshop brief.


It was a very creative, hands on week as we also had our monthly Bunnings Workshop. This was, however a bit of a let down. It sounded exciting, making treasure boxes. So lots of hammering with nails. However the timner used was very very hard and well let's just say that they didn't go together quite so well. Chalk it up to experience!


At kindy K has been reading Big Rain Coming by Katrina Germein. The teacher left the book out for inspiration and the kids were given these cool sparkly Aboriginal Dot Painting Stickers to create their own pictures.




There's always lots of box construction brought home from kindy, this time it was a rabbit, complete with fluff!



CBub helped B (well tried to knock it down anyway) build this tower out of his large kindy blocks.


He is still completely enthralled by Lego and especially all of the little men. He really feels he's won a prize when he stumbles across some lying around. Can't you tell, just have a look at his face.


We are also completing an ongoing group project with our Homeschool Network. Paper Mache Bucket Heads. This is where they currently are at. I need to try and find some time for us to complete at least another layer this weekend as on Monday we are painting them.

Everyone is eager to see the finished pieces.



Oh look here's my little house maid just finishing off a spot of dusting. Isn't he the sweetest!


And of course B had his weekly Tennis Lesson, he is improving week after week with his skills.

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To see more weekly updates from others visit the following blogs:

Homeschool Highlight Reel: Work and Play Day By Day

Learning Through Love: My Family My Forever

Preschool Corner: Homeschool Creations

Tot School: 1+1+1=1

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Through The Trees: Masking with Acrylics

B7 had our regular monthly Art Gallery Workshop with our homeschool friends a few days ago. We really enjoy being at the gallery so regularly.

The brief from the gallery for this month was,

Through the Trees: Tiny people in the rain forest; works in paint

WORKSHOP CONTENT: Eden’s Landing artist Mark Davey's exhibition Through the Trees demonstrates a vibrant, energetic series of textured abstract paintings based on what would be experienced if peering through trees into a rainforest.

Children will be introduced to the technique of 'masking areas' when creating in acrylic paints. They will have fun creating their own rain forest inspired artworks.

Viewing the exhibition. I totally loved these paintings and could really see them hanging on our walls. There were various colours (not only black backgrounds) the blue was gorgeous. The children were all really intrigued by this art work as well and sat for quite some time discussing it with the lady from the gallery.

From their we made our way into the workshop room so the children could begin their pieces, inspired by the artwork they just saw.

Masking up

The painting begins. Both of these techniques were knew for B7, the masking and the use of the palette knife. I know he didn't totally enjoy the workshop (he's not a huge fan of paint) but he did complete the piece.

Needs to dry for a couple of hours before removing the masking.

Holding our breath.

We still can't decide which way we prefer it, like this.

Or like this. What do you think?

Modified Art

Our Home School Network had their regular monthly Art Gallery Workshop this morning.

The main exhibition featured works by Paul Coporn, titled, "Modified". It was quite hilarious really, every day objects that have been modified in some way.

After our guided tour and a chance to chat about the exhibition and the artists work the children set about creating their own modified art works.

B7 modified a motorcycle using charcoals. He totally enjoyed this activity and I was thinking that it could be a fun one to do with images of animals and oil pastels or water colours.

K5 modified a bucket with the addition of a 'funny face'.

Quick Update

Ok I know I haven't been here much of late, no real excuses, just busy with life. So anyway here are a few pics with just a bit of what we've been up to this past week or so.

We had an absolutley fabulous up close and personal experience with some reptiles. Brian from Crocodiles and Dragons brought his little brood along for us to enjoy.

With only 20 children there everyone got up very close and in most cases they all got to hold the reptiles as well. This was fantastic! One of the best wildlife experiences we've had yet.

This has to be one of the best upsides to homeschooling - small groups mean more hands on and way more fun! No looking from the back over the heads of 40 or so other children here, my kids were right in the middle of it.

With Bearded Dragons

And Shingle Back Lizards

To Blue Tongues (B7 looks really into it here)


But when he actually touches the lizard, he's not so sure.

And a lively Turtle,

To a huge Crocodile. We all knew he had a crocodile in that box but no one ever expected it to be so big. He wasn't overly happy that day so was only out for a short play....I'd say that was probably a good thing hehehe

And then there was this experience. I am still totally blown away that both B7 and K4 were up for this, they did great and both seemed to really enjoy the experience.

Mum on the other hand,

Well, let's just say that isn't quite a smile of joy. CBub, however was really quite intrigued, especially when the snake decided to slither and move right around the back of his neck.

Definitely a fantastic opportunity and one I am sure the kids will remember for a log time to come.

I hadn't planned on doing any extension activities after the presentation, but the kids were eager. So we have been putting together a simple lapbook (since mum had nothing organised) I grabbed everything I needed from Home School Share - thanks guys.


We also had our second Art Gallery Workshop and were lucky enough to have the artist with us again. This time we tried our hand at Paper Cutting Techniques, some of which were quite tricky. Everyone added a piece or two to the huge wall mural the Art Gallery was creating.

The kids also made these nifty little notepad holders at bunnings, they enjoyed that. Sanding, gluing, painting, hammering and this is what we ended up with.