vegetable…animal…

There is something singularly satisfying about making a print. Add to that the geometric beauty of a section of sliced fruit, and you’ve got a great way to spend an afternoon. For the first autumn class at the Center For Maine Contemporary Art’s ArtLab, I set up stations for printing peppers, apples, mushrooms, and a few small objects, like lego pieces and corks.

But I began the class as I usually do, by setting out a small single prompt for each child. (This way, there is something clear – and hopefully intriguing – for them to focus on straightaway when they enter the room.) I printed one piece of fruit in the center of a small piece of paper, and asked the children to turn these prints into animals. It wasn’t long before we had quite a menagerie.