Exhibition Celebrating the Publication of “The Story of the Kaki Tree”
Guest Artist Workshop No.2
“Let’s Make Magical Kaki Fruit Together”
By Shinichi Yano
Mr. Shinichi Yano serves as a director of a general social organization, Children Art Network. He is also an artist who is engaged in research in education through art in many kindergartens.
He prepared white cocoon-shape packing materials, sparkling beads and marker pens on the table prior to the workshop.
Children first applied color to the cocoon-shape packing materials with marker pens and paints, then they drew shapes on them. They also pasted beads on them with adhesive bond. When they made some of them, Mr. Yano took out plaster powder, mixed with water, mixed with paints and showed them finished colorful plaster. Children saw the plaster for the first time and showed a strong interest. Then, they used their favorite colored plaster to play with it and create some forms.
To finish up, they poured plaster into paper cups to make pot-like foundations. When the plaster hardened a bit, they stuck a wire into it, and the cocoon-shape packing materials and plaster forms they created, as well. Some children got confused as they could not tell how fast the plaster became hard. However, everyone managed to make the foundation with advice from staff and older children. Finally, they decorated the cork base, which they placed under the foundation, applying little kaki fruit and colors to it, and they made lovely kaki trees that expressed each child’s unique character.
