Grade 9 art students are exploring the key concept of change. They looked at the work of sculptor Kirsteen Pieterse, who is interested in large-scale engineering projects and how these affect, and are affected by, the natural world.
We asked how Pieterse’s work might differ if she lived in Oman instead of Hong Kong. What human-made elements would inspire her? What natural elements, what colors and textures, would she find here? Finally, to kick off the unit, students were able to choose from two different G.R.A.S.P.S. major tasks. Everyone chose a project in which they would role play as professional architects, designing homes in real locations around Oman that must show harmony between the structure and its environment.
So far, students have explored two different free home design apps. They will soon be learning about form, balance, using linear perspective to draw a building, and finally, which materials resist environmental wear and which materials are designed to change over time.
