art history

Unlocking Your Inner Artist!

Grace Hancox

The second week of our Art Through the Ages | Toi Puta Noa i Ngā Tau​ school holiday programme is well underway! To celebrate, we thought we’d put together some pukapuka that your tamariki might enjoy as they discover their inner artist!

Here are some fantastic books from our collection which will help you learn techniques, discover artists, and inspire you to create your own masterpiece. You haven’t missed out on all of our holiday programming yet either, we have another jam-packed week full of artistic events to come! Be sure to check out the event pages linked below for what’s happening at your local library.

A portrait of Leonardo : the life and times of Leonardo da Vinci : a literary picture book / Bixley, Donovan
We would be remiss if we didn’t include this award-winning book by New Zealander Donovan Bixley! This ties in perfectly with our Paint Like Michelangelo event because Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo (who are not only members of the teenage mutant ninja turtles) were also Renaissance painters.
How art works / Hull, Sarah
“What is art? Where do artists get their ideas from? How do artists make pictures look real ? This lively book answers these questions and many more, to explore how art works. It features scores of cartoons and over 65 full-colour reproductions, including works by Leonardo da Vinci, Pablo Picasso, Frida Kahlo, Bridget Riley and Damien Hirst. Illustrations: Full colour throughout.” (Catalogue)
A day at the gallery / Gould, Nia
“This quirky and creative search-and-find book takes children, room by room, through a wonderfully illustrated art gallery.” (Catalogue)
How to be an artist / Abadzis, S. Natalie
“Explore your creative side as you discover the artist that lies within. Each of the fun activities included in this book will teach you about a different area of art and design. Learn about the history and theory of art, before getting your hands dirty while creating your very own masterpieces.  From mark making to woodwork, and photography to sculpture, there’s a project for every art-aficionado to get stuck into. Covering composition and perspective, illusion and paper engineering, this art activity book for kids has it all.” (Adapted from catalogue)
Modern art explorer : with 30 artworks from the Centre Pompidou / Harman, Alice
“Featuring a diverse range of modern artists and their works, Modern Art Explorer takes young readers on an undercover adventure to discover the stories behind famous works. Featuring Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Frida Kahlo, and many more, this book brings readers the stories behind thirty famous artworks. Modern Art Explorer goes undercover and turns each work of art inside out, providing children with an ability to understand what each piece is all about. Buoyed by award-winning illustrator Serge Bloch’s cheeky and energetic illustrations, this book prompts children to think about how art comes into being and to take a deeper look at the ideas within each work.” (Adapted from catalogue)
The colours of history / Gifford, Clive
“Why did Roman emperors wear purple? When was ‘chrome yellow’ invented? Which colour is made from crushed beetles? What green pigment might be used to build super-fast computers of the future? From black to white, and all the colours in between, every shade has a story to tell. Each colour group is introduced with a double-page spread illustration, followed by illustrated entries exploring the ‘colourful’ history of particular shades. With vivid, thought-provoking illustrations and engaging, bite-sized text.” (Catalogue)
Art and how it works : an introduction to art for children / Kay, Ann
“This enticing introduction to art appreciation for children looks at art history, themes in art, and art techniques – from cave paintings to modern art. Children will learn to step back, think, and look at art in a new way. This fabulous book explores themes in art, including women in art and symbolism in art. Kids will be encouraged to look closely at a painting and understand why and how it was made. By tapping into STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Maths), Art . . . And How it Works helps with the understanding of colour and the materials artists use. The mathematical side of art will be highlighted and kids will learn about patterns and shapes in art. The book looks at the history of art for kids – from prehistoric paintings, Impressionism, abstract art, through to the art of today. It includes biographies of major artists from Fra Angelico to David Hockney. Art . . . And How it Works cuts through the jargon that surrounds the art world and offers a fresh, new, and accessible approach for kids.” (Catalogue)

Remaining events taking place during the second week of the holidays:

More information about each of these events can be found on our original school holiday programme blog post!

School Holidays: Art Through the Ages | Toi Puta Noa i Ngā Tau​

Joseph Robinson

The School Holidays are just around the corner! During the holidays, we are inviting you to explore the world through the power of art in Art Through the Ages | Toi Puta Noa i Ngā Tau.

From the 23rd of September to the 8th of October, learn how to paint like Michelangelo, decorate medieval manuscripts, master the art of the woodblock print, and create your own miniature masterpiece at the library! ​

​Visit this page to see the whole calendar, or read on to find out more about what’s coming up at your local library or community centre!

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What will be your masterpiece?


Illuminating Medieval Manuscripts​

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Get up-close and personal with extremely old and rare items from our Rare Books collection – some from the 1400s!

Rare Books Librarian Gábor Tóth will share the history and technique of manuscript illumination, or hand-drawn decoration. Then, in a found poetry workshop, create and decorate your own ‘manuscript’ in medieval style.

Ages 10+ with their caregivers, if under 14.

Spaces are limited, find out how to register with the links below:


Create a Miniature Masterpiece​

Display your work of art in our itty bitty exhibition!​

Tamariki can join us at the library to paint their masterpiece onto a miniature (10cm x 10cm) canvas. Afterwards, the hosting library will set up a ‘tiny canvas’ exhibition of the paintings, complete with museum-style display cards.

Recommended for tamariki 5+ with their caregivers.

Register online with the following links:

While stocks last, Johnsonville Library will also have some take home kits for tamariki to bring back for a big exhibition!

" "Weave a Pocket full of Stars: Raranga Papercrafts

Join us to learn a little bit about the history of raranga, kete weaving, and basket weaving more generally. Then, tamariki will have the chance to weave their own kete, adapting raranga techniques to materials that can easily be found at home or in our libraries, like coloured paper and cardboard.

For ages 5+ with their caregivers.​ No registrations required.

 

Paint Like Michelangelo

Travel back in time to learn about Renaissance Italian art! Then lying on your back, apply those techniques and paint the underside of library desks and tables. We will supply all the tools, simply bring along your enthusiasm and artful eye!

For ages 8+ with their caregivers.

Register online with the following links:


" "Traditional Chinese Painting

Join us at the library to learn about and try your hand at traditional Chinese painting. Our expert will share his traditions and techniques with you, then you can try your hand at creating your own artwork.

Ages 8+ with their caregivers.

Register online with the following links:


Festival of Ultrawild Design

Join maverick inventor Steve Mushin for an hilarious design and drawing workshop exploring ludicrous sounding, scientifically possible ideas to rewild the world!

Skills explored: design sketching, 3D drawing, perspective drawing, brainstorming ridiculously wild ideas, eco city design thinking, and storyboarding. Each workshop will be a little different!

For young people who love drawing and inventing!

Recommended for Ages 9-15.

Register online with the following links:


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Framed: Make a Popsicle ​Stick Photo Frame

Bring along a photo or picture! Then, make and decorate a photo frame out of popsicle sticks to put your photo in. You can also draw your own masterpiece to put in your frame!

For ages 5–10 with their caregivers.

For Tawa and Johnsonville events, please register in advance. For other sites, no registration is required.

That Suspicious Sculpture: an Introduction to Dungeons and Dragons

Join us for an introduction to the world of Dungeons and Dragons. We’ll provide the Dungeon Master, pre-made characters, dice, books, gear, and knowledge – all you need is enthusiasm! This session is intended to introduce new and novice players to Dungeons and Dragons & tabletop roleplaying games through a Level 1 adventure, learning the game from our experienced librarians in a friendly environment.

Suitable for ages 13+ 

Register online with the following links:


" " The Great Wave: Japanese Woodblock Printing Workshop​

Discover the practice and style of Japanese woodblock prints and create a classic print of your own.

Make your own spin on classic pieces of art by choosing what colours to print, a twist on the tradition of colouring in.

For ages 8+ with their caregivers.​

Spaces are limited, find out how to register with the links below:


LEGO® Creations – The Art of Architecture

Come down to the library and get creative in these free-build sessions with our extensive LEGO® collections. Let’s build – let’s explore – let’s create a LEGO® masterpiece building inspired by a range of local and global designs.

Recommended for ages 5+ Children under the age of 14 should be accompanied by a caregiver.

More holiday LEGO® Sessions for the whole family! 

Playdough sculpture spectacular!

Come along and create marvellous sculptures with our homemade library recipe playdough.

All supplies provided, there will be sticks, eyes and other craft materials to create truly magnificent sculptures!

Recommended for children aged 5-10.

Register online with the following link:

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Whānau Films

Come join us for a family movie! Movies chosen will have a G or PG rating and are suitable for families with young children. Contact the library branch to find out which movie is screening.

This family-friendly event is suitable for children of all ages accompanied by their caregivers.

7 new children’s non fiction to make learning fun

Katie

Chess Endgames For Kids.

Master the art of chess by reading this book and learn vital skills and a few key endgame techniques will dramatically increase your confidence, as you  will understand what positions to aim for and which to avoid.

 

 

Guinness World Records 2016.

Contains thousands of records that span every field of human and non-human endeavors, including science and technology, animals, sports, geography, arts and entertainment, education, hobbies and pastimes, unusual rituals, and many others. Guinness World Records 2015 is crammed with new and updated records, and never-before-seen photography.

 

LEGO minifigure year by year : a visual history.

Check out this amazing book jam packed full of visual history, fantastic photographs and profiles of more than 2,000 minifigures and other Lego characters.

 

 

 

Historium.

Welcome to the museum! Here you will find a collection of objects from ancient civilisations. Objects of beauty, functionality, war, life, death and burial. As you wander from room to room, explore the magnificence of what civilisations have left behind over thousands of years of human history! Great for ages 8 to 12 years old.

 

 

Neil Armstrong and travelling to the moon.

Fly to the moon and back with Neil Armstrong and travelling to the moon. Read all about hoe Armstrong trained for his mission, what he found on the moon and what astronauts eat in space.

 

 

 

The World’s Craziest records.

Feel like a change from Guinness World Records or Ripley’s believe it or not, then check this exciting book  that describes some of the craziest, silliest, and most extraordinary records achieved by people around the world.

 

 

The World’s Oddest Inventions.

Describes some of the oddest, strangest, and most bizarre inventions from around the world

 

 

 

New Non Fiction: Art splash, Poetry in motion and a special Disney Princess surprise!

Katie

New Art Books from Usborne!

image courtesy of syndeticsThe Usborne Introduction to Art.

Prepare to be dazzled and amazed when you read all about Western painting. From Ancient Egyptian tomb decorations to modern art, your head will explode from all overload of knowledge!

To accompany this book, read:

 

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsThe Usborne Book of Art.

This will overload your brain with even more knowledge about anything and everything to do with art. This fascinating book covers it all – from Ancient Egyptian tomb decorations to great masters of European painting right up to the present day.

 

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsFrogs are funny! : the most sensational, inspirational, celebrational, muppetational, Muppets joke book ever!

Frogs are funny. Yep, that book definitely spells that out. For all you Muppet fans, check out this new amazing book that if full of laugh out loud jokes from all the Muppet Movies and shows. Readers beware, hilarity will ensue!

 

 

 

A Treasury of NZ Poems for children.image courtesy of syndetics

Who would have thought poetry could be beautiful? This book is certainly living proof and is busting with wonderful NZ poems by writers, such as James K. Baxter, Margaret Mahy and Kyle Meburn, that will make you laugh, cry, jiggle and ponder. A treasury of NZ poems for children makes poetry sing for a new generation.

 

 

 

 

Saved the best for last…

Girls and boys…be prepared to discover your inner (Disney) Princess!

image courtesy of syndeticsDisney Princess: Enchanted Character Guide.

What girl doesn’t dream of being a Disney Princess? Once upon a time I was one of those girls. (Ok, every now and again I still dream) Well girls, your dreams are about to come true. Check out this newly updated Disney Princess: Enchanted Character Guide and prepare to be transported into the enchanting world of Disney princesses where dreams really do come true. This book helps you discover the magical and enchanting world of Disney princesses. You can get to know each beautiful Princess and read their magical story, meet their best friends and worst enemies, plus find out fascinating facts about your favourite Disney Princess. From Snow White and The Little Mermaid to Sleeping Beauty and Merida. After reading this book, I swear I had been transported back to my childhood. Princesses, glitter, this is a book that every girl will love and perhaps may have to fight and claw their way to ensure they get their hands on this precious treasure.

 

Also take the time to rediscover… Princess : The Essential Guide (Revised editon). and Princess : The Essential Guide!