School Mosaic Workshops
I am a mosaic artist/consultant with experience working with communities and school groups. I can help you coordinate any mosaic project or projects at your school, tailored to your schools’ needs.
"As an individual, Nathalie engages communities and audiences directly and with ease. As an artist and project director, she has a clear vision for her work and is able to translate that into reality…" Paula Murray, Head of Arts and Creative Industries, Brighton & Hove City Council
Example of school workshop
Ursuline Prep School, London
• Gave an introductory talk on mosaic's facinating history (4000 years bridging civilisations all around the world)
• Synchronized the efforts of 100 kids on and off over a period of 2 days
• The result: A mesmerizing permanent mosaic feature for the school that every child can feel ownership of
size: 1.5m x 1.5m
During my mosaic workshop, I always make sure that everybody explores their own self so they can extract this precious parcel of idea and make it theirs… The confidence is built…
The rest is an association of tiles and enjoyment… and this is where I come and can pass on my knowledge, give tips, explanations, new visual perspectives, projections of the finished product, how to see differently etc..
And I am native French, fluent in English. That simple fact is an interesting factor for children, it would raise their curiosity, they would exchange their experience, talk to me in French?
Mosaic is a hands-on / kinesthetic and enjoyable medium which can be adapted to all learning styles and can be used as a platform to further develop skills such as self esteem , self control and intuitive skills.
In my experience, mosaic workshops have always been a surprise for the teachers and parents of the kids attending the workshops..
They were strangely quieter, more focused, concentrated…
The connection with the mosaic medium seems to instantly grab the attention, seems to send anyone (children and adults) into a more meditative state…
...This is all so good for the “creativity”...
The projects can range from:
1. Semi permanent or permanent
2. Floor or wall
3. A mural placed in the community
4. A pathway, patterns to guide our feet
5. Create a seating area (bench)
6. Your name and logo
7. Renovation of an existing mosaic
8. Embellishment of an architectural structure.
9. As part of a group effort, individual student’s works can be assembled together to create a larger mosaic piece.
10. Or each individual working on their own piece (a gift to take home)
Mosaic workshops cross curricular links
The following list highlight some of the cross curricular links that can be explored through a mosaic workshop:
1. Personal and Social Health Education (social skills, team work, sharing)
2. Religious education (Islam, Christianity)
3. History (Greeks, Romans)
4. Art and design and technology (tools, equipment, playground “Gaudi”)
5. Math (area, perimeter, symmetry, shapes)
6. Science (materials, recycling, environment, sustainability)
7. Literacy (explanation texts, reports and recounts, speaking and listening)
8. Health and Safety (use of tools, common sense)
9. French (interaction with a French native speaker)
Tools and equipment
I can organize a very cost effective tools / equipment package, and also materials (depending on your budget: Venetian mosaic tiles, ceramics, broken plates, pebbles, mirrors and other found treasures)
Fees will vary on your particular requirements (e.g. preparation work or materials required) but start at around £280 per day
Experience
• Ursuline Prep School, London (2007). The project involved synchronizing the efforts of 100 primary school children into the production of a 2.25 sq. meter permanent mosaic mural in the space of just 2 days!
• St Mary Madeleine’s Primary School, Brighton (2005). Group Mosaic workshop with children and parents
• May Festival Open Houses, Brighton. Group Mosaic workshop with children and parents (2002)
Teachers' feedbacks:
At first I was a bit worried to have a large mosaic fixed permanently on the wall above our beautifull pond but I am now totally convinced and hypnotised by the piece. It is really a beautiful mosaic – I am really happy! . Mrs Christine Grogan MA – Headmistress, Ursuline Prep School, Wimbeldon, London
I would like to say that the experience was in every way positive. You were a perfectionist in what you wanted to achieve but happy for the pupils to have a go even if they did make mistakes. They enjoyed the experience very much and were delighted to have produced a beautiful piece of art that will be there for as long as the school is there. Someone even said they will come back and look at it when they have left. The parents who helped were impressed by your professionalism and dedication to the piece and are delighted by the finished product. . Angela Bradley, Science Teacher, Ursuline Prep School
Childrens' feedbacks:
“It was great fun!”
“It told me that you can do Art and Science together!”
“ I love getting glue on my fingers and the mosaic project really started Science week very well!”
“Mosaic is a fun art that you can do with your friends!”
“It is going to create a beautiful image on the wall and it was something different of what we normally do. It was really fun!”
“It inspires me to do more art and less computer games!”