University students are working together with pupils from the Montessori School in Kleve and the artist Nicole Peters to create a ‘collaborative seating sculpture’.
Kleve/Kamp-Lintfort, 30 September 2016: Under the guidance of the artist Nicole Peters and Prof. Dr Heike Helen Weinbach, Professor of Education specialising in early years teaching, third- and fifth-semester students on the Bachelor’s degree programme in ‘Early Years Education’ are working together with pupils from the Montessori School in Kleve to create a seating sculpture for the Kleve campus. As part of the project, everyone involved is working together to go through the entire artistic process, from the initial idea through model-making to the realisation of the object as a large-scale sculpture.
Over the past few days, the participants have created various miniature clay models of the seating sculpture, into which they were able to incorporate all their creative ideas and imagination. Following a vote, the winning design was selected from the numerous models; this will ultimately serve as the template for the new artwork. The winning design depicts a book from which various animals are crawling out onto the campus. The seating sculpture is thus intended to highlight the connection between Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences and the Montessori School in the town of Kleve, whilst also representing the diversity on the Kleve campus.
To create the seating sculpture, the artists are first modelling a life-size version in polystyrene at the planned location next to Building 5 on the Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences campus in Kleve, before it is cast in glass-fibre-reinforced concrete. Once the concrete sculpture has set, the students and children will work together to apply a colourful tile mosaic that will make the seating sculpture stand out.
In line with the participatory approach, students and children are involved in all stages of the project and make democratic decisions regarding the design of the seating sculpture. The project focuses on the threefold aim of creating an artistic work, the design process and the joy of the shared experience. In the process, students and children learn to engage in artistic and creative activities, to put their ideas into practice through craftsmanship, and to work collaboratively within a group. At the same time, the participating students and children gain new tactile experiences, develop gross and fine motor skills through the craft process, and hone their spatial awareness as they transfer the design sketches onto the concrete sculpture. Working together in a group comprising a wide variety of personalities, each with their own individual strengths, perspectives and backgrounds, fosters teamwork as well as communication and social skills. Furthermore, the students are able to gain valuable career-relevant experience and develop their project management skills.
The project is financially supported by the Friends of Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences – Cleve Campus e.V., the Friends of Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences e.V., GMG Holding GmbH + Co. Gocher-Mineral-Gewinnungsgesellschaft KG and Heicks & Teutenberg GmbH.
Completion of the ‘Miteinander’ seating sculpture is scheduled for mid-October 2016. All interested parties are warmly invited to the unveiling in November.
Nicole Peters is a qualified art teacher and is particularly well known for her artistic projects in public spaces, at nursery schools and in schools. Her most recent projects include ‘Gorilla Willi’ at the Willibrord School in Kleve-Kellen, which she created together with children from the all-day care programme.
