This month in Art-To-Go:
This February over 4,000 Texas students participated in our arts and culture enrichment program, Art-To-Go.
K-12 students explored an ancient celebration celebrated each spring in the countries of Pakistan and India.
What we explored:
The Basant festival is one of the oldest in world history. It is a celebration of the spring season and time spent together as family.
The festival centers around a Kite Flying Competition that occurs on the roofs of many families in the large urban communities of Pakistan.
The color yellow is everywhere during the festival as it reminds the Pakistani people of the bright spring sun and the blooming fields of mustard flowers!
What we made:
Elementary students began our study by listening as our Instructors read a book about a special young boy reaching social and personal goals while competing in the Basant kite flying competition.
Next, younger elementary students created mustard-flower Patang (kites), complete with green flowing leaves and a Basant Greeting!
We enjoyed listening to traditional music and “flying” our Patang around the room on parade!
Upper elementary age students created a class garland of Patang to decorate their room for Spring!
Students practiced writing script in another language, drawing symbols of the holiday, and folding a basic 3D paper form.
Middle School students created a toy that has been a kid-favorite during Basant celebrations for hundreds of years.
First, they decorated a punched coaster with symbols and phrases related to the Basant festival.
Next, they laced a string through their design to create a whirligig toy!
They surprised themselves with how much fun was to be had with such a “low-tech” contraption!
High School students investigated the social and economic implications of the modern Basant Festival in Pakistan and India. After watching videos of the celebration and discussion/ debate- they created real, flying Patang!
After assemblage, they decorated their kite with symbols and traditional greetings of the holiday, and then took their kites outside to fly. (For many, this was their first time to fly or own a kite!)
Join us at the museum next weekend for our Basant Kite Festival to create one of these fun crafts and celebrate spring with us!
Event is FREE and open to the public. All ages welcome.
Molly Gore Merck, Education Coordinator