The body’s voice like an unshakable mountain. Class 3.

Within the project “The Artist is Present – Contemporary Art Residencies in Schools”, artist Kristīne Brīniņa visited the third class of Liepāja Catholic Primary School on 11 April for the fourth time with a creative lesson to encourage children to be aware of their bodies and discover themselves and the world around them in a different way through movement! The lesson was also attended by project leader Māra Žeikare, and the process was captured by photographer Lita Millere. The class was supported by teacher Liene Mileiko.
At the beginning of the lesson, the children shared the joys, experiences and impressions they had since the last time they met. The sharing was followed by a warm-up game and an imaginative exercise where everyone had the opportunity to play the role of a “stamp”, using their body to make impressions on the surfaces and objects around them. Iepriekšējā tikšanās reizē skolēniem tika lūgts sagatavot sava vārda horeogrāfiju, ko katram bija iespēja demonstrēt. Pēc mājas darba prezentācijas, klase vienojās kustību improvizācijas uzdevumā, kura laikā, mijiedarbojoties vienam ar otru, bērni iemiesoja kalna reljefu. Pēc kāda skolēna ierosinājuma, sakot: “es gribu zīmēt!”, māksliniece iedrošināja kustību vingrinājumus pārnest arī uz lapas – zīmējot. Nodarbības noslēgumā bērni tika aicināti izteikties un dalīties ar to, kas viņiem tajā paticis vai tieši otrādi – ko vēlētos darīt citādi. Bērni atzina, ka visvairāk no šīs nodarbības paliks atmiņā tas, kā visi kopā, saliekot kopā savus atšķirīgos ķermeņu “zīmogus”, uzbūvēja kalnu, un sajutās vienoti. Uz jautājumu, kas ir tas, ko bērni šajās nodarbībās dara, saņēmām visdažādākās atbildes – bērni augstu novērtē kustību brīvību, kas tiek atļauta klases vidē – drīkst pat gulēt uz zemes! Bērni mācās no jauna atklāt savu ķermeni, atbrīvot to, un izteikt sevi bez vārdiem. Izteikt vārdus kustībās. Atklāt, ka kustība varbūt gan deja, gan cita veida izteiksmes forma. Bērni atzina, ka kustība varētu kļūt par ikvienas mācību stundas sastāvdaļu, ne tikai sporta stundu. Horeogrāfijas metodes, ko pielieto Kristīne, palīdz klases vidē iejusties arī bērniem ar kustību un dzirdes traucējumiem. Klasē kā asistents līdzdarbojas arī Roberta mamma, kura pēc nodarbības atzina, ka neverbālā komunikācija, kas tiek izmantota nodarbībās bērnu pašizpausmes veicināšanai, ļoti saliedē klasi un īpaši iekļauj bērnus ar kustību traucējumiem. The insights she gained serve as an inspiration for her when planning future meetings.

Ourselves. 7th grade.

On 11 April, as part of the project “The Artist is Present – Contemporary Art Residencies in Schools”, artist Kristīne Brīniņa visited the seventh grade students of Liepāja Catholic Primary School.
The lesson with the seventh grade began with the artist reflecting on the inspiring meeting the previous time, recalling the successful movement composition work that made her think about the power of the group. This was followed by a trust exercise in which the young people, divided into pairs, guided each other in the room. Then, by playing the role of a “stamp”, everyone was invited to pay attention to touch – which also leaves an imprint on the surface. The artist and the children went outside in the schoolyard to choreograph their words as graffiti on the surrounding surfaces – walls, trees, fences, etc. Back in the classroom, drawing with crayons, the pupils were invited to feel and observe how the movement was created in relation to the surface of the paper. At the end of the meeting, reflecting on the exercises, the following insights emerged: we imagine; we fill space with ourselves; we communicate without words through dance improvisation; we have the opportunity to be ourselves. The lesson was attended by project leader Māra Žeikare, the process was captured by photographer Lita Millere. Many thanks to teacher Dana Liepa for her support in the class!