The Ark is running an innovative series of workshops that link art and technology in a way that captures children's imagination, writes Dick Ahlstrom.
Art and technology merge in an innovative series of workshops planned this summer at The Ark in Dublin's Temple Bar. Children will be encouraged to use advanced technology to produce music videos, build robots that draw pictures and create a working mechanical circus.
Four art and technology workshops have been devised as part of the Ark's growing Arkimedia programme, says project director Michael John Gorman. It merges art and technology in a way relevant for children, he says. "It is an area in which the Ark has been active for some time."
The Ark Children's Cultural Centre opened on Eustace Street, Temple Bar in 1995. The goal from the beginning was to explore all aspects of children's culture, from music and film to science and technology.
"The Ark provides an environment where children aged four to 14 can explore cultural interests of importance to them," says Gorman. "The idea is that just because it is for children doesn't mean it shouldn't be work of a very high standard."
The Arkimedia element, which specifically links art and technology, grew out of earlier, smaller-scale initiatives, for example last year's special workshops dedicated to the work - both artistic and technological - of Leonardo da Vinci, he says. "It was decided this was an area that really should be developed."
The aim of the workshops is to demonstrate the connections between technology and creativity, he says.
The children will be using existing advanced technology or building their own, with the result being video productions, robots and works of art.
Four workshops are on offer under the Arkimedia programme.
The first this month is, Make the Video - a Music Video Workshop, says Gorman.
Children will be encouraged to make their own professional soundtrack and music video with the help of Donal Tierney of Five Green Circle and video artist Eoghan Kidney of Delicious 9.
Participants will use advanced Apple iLife software to build a soundtrack and will shoot and edit a video. "They will be building their own digital music soundtrack," says Gorman. "This video will then he screened in Meeting House Square at the end of the week."
The next programme, in August, is FoodFace - a Video Art Workshop.
"It is inspired by the work of Renaissance artist, Guiseppe Arcimboldo (1527-93), who worked in Prague during the reign of Rudolf II," says Gorman. "He created most unusual portrait heads using fruit, vegetables, animals, birds and fish."
The workshop is "an exploration of food", he adds, as the children will be taking video footage during Temple Bar's famous open-air market.
This will be brought back to the Ark and reconstituted into striking fruit and veg imagery using advanced video processing software developed by Pipedream Productions. "It is like sketching in video clips," Gorman adds.
DrawBots - Robot Workshop is organised in conjunction with the Anthropos group at MediaLab Europe.
"Kids are extremely interested in robots and they will have an opportunity to meet some created by MLE including Jo Robot," says Gorman. "They will also have an opportunity to make their own drawing robots."
These simple artistic robots have been designed to go out of control and draw random pictures. They are built using weighted motors, and plastic cups linked to standard drawing materials.
The final workshop, Mechanical Circus-kinetic Art, is one of the more unusual. Kinetic artists, Peter O'Kennedy and Laurent Mellet will help participants build a performing mechanical circus, complete with trapeze artists, tightrope walkers, human cannonballs and a lion tamer.
It is inspired by the work of the sculptor, Alexander Calder.
"The idea is that using simple mechanical components the kids will be able to build the circus performers," says Gorman.
"They will use simple objects such as wire, cork and rubber bands that can be put together in creative ways."
The workshops run during specific weeks this month and next. All are designed for children aged between 10 and 14, but places are limited and early booking is advised.
The videos that are created by the children will have a public screening on Meeting House Square.
Make the Video - Music Video Workshop, from Monday, July 19th to 23rd, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., tickets €75.
FoodFace - Video Art Workshop, lasts for five days, from Thursday August 5th to Saturday 7th, and from Monday August 9th to Tuesday August 10th, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., tickets €60.
DrawBots - Robot Workshop, single sessions, on Wednesday August 11th to 13th, from 11 a.m.-2.30 p.m., tickets €12.
Mechanical Circus - Kinetic Art Workshop, four days from Monday August 16th to Thursday 19th August, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., tickets €50.
Booking at The Ark, 11a Eustace Street, or tel (01) 6707788.