Workshop Outlines

Outline

Six Art Workshops
Workshop 1 The City of Ersilia
Workshop 2 Beautiful from the Inside Out
Workshop 3 Why I Soar
Workshop 4 A Day of Dust and Sunshine
Workshop 5 My Garden
Workshop 6 Transformation

Workshop #1- The City of Ersilia

The Goal of the Workshop Theme: Empowerment- Social Justice

The goal of this workshop is to create a 3D sculpture illustrating how the girls
view relationships within a community.

Workshop Introduction/ Explanation

The story of Ersilia comes from the book, “Invisible Cities,” by Italo Calvino, in
which Marco Polo is telling the stories of cities he visited on his expeditions.
Ersilia is the city that exists wherever its nomadic settles.

Narrative:

In Ersilia, to establish the relationships that sustain the city's life, the inhabitants stretch strings from the corners of the
houses, white or black or gray or black-and-white according to whether they mark a relationship of blood, of trade,
authority, agency. When the strings become so numerous that you can no longer pass among them, the inhabitants leave:
the houses are dismantled; only the strings and their supports remain.
From a mountainside, camping with their household goods, Ersilia's refugees look at the labyrinth of taut strings and
poles that rise in the plain. That is the city of Ersilia still, and they are nothing.
They rebuild Ersilia elsewhere. They weave a similar pattern of strings which they would like to be more complex and at
the same time more regular than the other. Then they abandon it and take themselves and their houses still farther away.
Thus, when traveling in the territory of Ersilia, you come upon the ruins of the abandoned cities, without the walls
which do not last, without the bones of the dead which the wind rolls away: spider webs of intricate
relationships seeking a form.

Workshop #1- The City of Ersilia

Visual Description

Marco-Shared
stories about
cities he visited
with Genghis

Marco Polo Genghis Khan

Explorer Brought together Nomadic tribes
in Northeast Asia

Workshop #1- The City of Ersilia

Visual Description

City of Ersilia

Home of the nomadic tribe

Agency

(Law Enforcement)

Family Authority

(Blood) (Village Leader)

Nomadic Tribe Relationships Trade

A group of people who move Connect (Workers)
from place to place relationships in

community

Workshop #1- The City of Ersilia Visual Description

Relationships

Connect relationships in community

Family Agency Authority Trade

(Red String) (Purple String) (Yellow String) (Blue String)

Workshop #1- The City of Ersilia Materials Required
(18) Scissors
(2-3) Tape (18) Rulers
(18) Pencils
(18) Sewing Needles (25) Cardstock

(6) Bundles of String

Workshop #1- The City of Ersilia

Care and Storage for the Materials

Sewing needles should be stored in a pin cushion or sealed container
String should be bundled or spooled to prevent knotting
Papers should be stored flat

Step-by-step instructions including time breakdown in minutes for each step
for the workshop leader

Set up:

Layout: Paper, pen, pencil, ruler, sewing needle, plastic spoon, scissors, and tape at each place setting

Instruction

Read the narrative: (4min)
Folding papers in half (3min)
Draw out city from middle of the page up and middle of the page down (5min)
Tread needles. When first hole is pierces paper the end of the string to the back of the paper.
 string and sew from the tops of the buildings on the top half, connecting to the tops of the building
on the bottom half. Carefully keep the pages bent at a 45 degree angle
Switch colors of string as desired. Making sure to tape the beginning and end of the string to the
back. (33min)

Breakdown

Collect all left over sting to discard.
Secure sewing needles
Gather up all tools and set aside for workshop facilitator to collect.

Workshop #1- The City of Ersilia

Instruction and Assistance during the workshop

Each student will start with the template of City
Demonstrate and assist with folding paper in half
Have students open up the folded paper and lay flat
If needed, mark little dots to sew the strings through. Otherwise the students can sew more
organically.
Have the students identify which buildings represent blood (family), trade (workers), authority (who is
in charge or village leaders), Agency (village law enforcement)
Demonstrate or assist with threading needles with selected string color. Family (Red), Trade (Blue),
Authority (Yellow), and Agency (Purple)
Demonstrate or assist with puncturing a hole at the top of one of the roof corners and tape the end
of the string to the back of the page to keep it from pulling through completely
Stretch the string to the other side of the paper causing the paper to fold into a 45degree angle.
Continue to connect the rooftops with string based on their relationship in the community.
When finished sewing tape off the end of the string to keep from pulling completely though
Fold the page together with the strings inside and pressed closed on the table.
Use the plastic spoon to press which moving in a circular motion over the page. This should reveal in
imprint of the strings stretched across the city
Explain the metaphor of the imprint as being the memory of the city and the strings as with time, the
buildings may crumble leaving only the strings and what was the intricate connections of
those who one lived there.



Workshop #1- The City of Ersilia

Clean-up

Collect all left over sting to discard.
Secure sewing needles
Collect all the tools used
Store all papers in a flat dry place

Additional Guidance

Might come from helping students understand the connections within a community.
Discussions during the workshop about the girls’ community
Discussion about nomadic tribes.

Images and Examples

Workshop #1- The City of Ersilia

Images and Examples

Other interpretations

Workshop #1- The City of Ersilia

References

http://ekostories.com/2015/06/21/italo-calvino-invisible-cities/
http://www.projectsoarmarrakesh.org/
http://www.amazon.com/Podge-CS11302-Original-16-Ounce-Finish/dp/B001IKES5O
http://www.amazon.com/Connecting-Threads-Essential-Thread-
Cotton/dp/B00USHJNJE/ref=sr_1_12?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1454101165&sr=1-
12&keywords=thread
http://www.amazon.com/Dritz-25-Piece-Assorted-Craft-
Needles/dp/B004VP5U96/ref=sr_1_12?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1454101300&sr=1-
12&keywords=sewing+needles
http://www.amazon.com/Singer-Fashion-Cushion-Strawberry-
Emery/dp/B00430325S/ref=sr_1_2?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1454101353&sr=1-
2&keywords=pin+cushion

Workshop #2- Beautiful from the Inside Out

Theme: Empowerment- Character building

The Goal of the Workshop
To create a 2D word and symbol graphic to illustrate individuality

Workshop Introduction/ Explanation
• Our hands symbolize a part of us
• By tracing the hand five times into a circular shape we create a snowflake.
• Snowflakes, like us are one of a kind. No are the same.
• In the center the hands creates a star.
• The star represents Morocco and our inner light.
• Around the hands, our friends will write words to describe us. These words
how other see us.

Workshop #2- Beautiful from the Inside Out

Visual Description

Our hands symbolize By tracing the hand five
a part of us times into a circular shape

we create a snowflake.

Workshop #2- Beautiful from the Inside Out

Visual Description

In the center
the hands

creates a star.

By tracing the hand five The star represents
times into a circular shape Morocco

we create a snowflake.

And our inner light.

Workshop #2- Beautiful from the Inside Out

Visual Description

In side the hands: Outside around the hands:
How we see Ourselves How people see us

Workshop #2- Beautiful from the Inside Out

Supply List

(25) Card stock (18) Scissors

(18) Pencils (18) Rulers

(18) Marker packs (18) White gel pens
(25) 18 x24 sheet of
paper

Workshop #2- Beautiful from the Inside Out

Care and Storage for the Materials

Papers should be stored flat
Markers should be capped so they do not dry out

Step-by-step instructions including time breakdown in minutes for each step
for the workshop leader

Set up:

Layout: Papers, markers, pencil, ruler, scissors

Instruction

Trace hand and cut out(4min)
Trace hand template on large paper 5 times in a circle(4min)
Color the center star yellow (1min)
Write down words and draw symbols that describe you (15min)
Inside the hands write words in different sizes and use symbols that represent you. Layout with
pencil and go over with pen when completely laid out (15min)
Pass your piece to friend/s to write words around your hands that describe how they see you with
white gel pen. (6min)

Breakdown

Discard paper scraps
Cap all pens
Gather up all tools and set aside for workshop facilitator to collect.

Workshop #2- Beautiful from the Inside Out

Instruction and Assistance during the workshop

Demonstrate tracing hand and cutting out
Collect any paper scraps to discard
Demonstrate and assist with tracing hand template 5 times in a circle
Guide the girls is topics or ideas that will help them come up with words and symbols to describe
themselves.
Cap any unused pens to keep them from drying out throughout the workshop
Remind the girls to give their piece to a friend or several girls to write things around the hands that
describe the maker.

Clean-up

Collect all left over paper scraps to discard.
Cap all markers to keep from drying out
Collect all the tools used
Store all papers in a flat dry place

Additional Guidance

Discussions during the workshop about individuality
Discussions during the workshop about friendship and a support network

Workshop #2- Beautiful from the Inside Out

Images and Examples

Workshop #2- Beautiful from the Inside Out

Images and Examples

Workshop #2- Beautiful from the Inside Out

References

http://thepinterestedparent.com/2015/11/snowflake-crafts-for-kids/
http://www.ourdailycraft.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/hand-art.jpg

Workshop #3- Why I Soar

Theme: Empowerment- Social Justice-Character Building
The Goal of the Workshop

The goal of this workshop is to create a collage bird with paper scraps from a
narrative the girls write about why they soar. The bird sees the world from a
different point of view.

Workshop Introduction/ Explanation

• We celebrate individuality and what makes us who we are.
• Our inner bird wants to soar.
• In order to soar, we must have a strong foundation; Home, family,

nourishment, love, community, values, core beliefs. This makes up the body
of our bird.
• Our dreams, people who believe in us and lift us up make our wings.
• On a sheet of paper we will write down what makes our foundation
• Then cut them into the shapes and attach to the body of our bird template.
• Then we will write down the elements that make up our wings.

• This paper will be torn into pieces and tossed up into the air
and recollected. Then used to build our wings.

Workshop #3- Why I Soar

Visual Description

We celebrate Home
individuality and Family
what makes us Nourishment

who we are. Love

Our inner bird wants Community
to soar. Core Beliefs

Workshop #3- Why I Soar Visual Description

Dreams

Our dreams, people who believe in
us and lift us up make our wings.

Workshop #3- Why I Soar Visual Description

1 2

On a sheet of paper we will Then cut them into the shapes
write down what makes our and attach to the body of our

foundation birds.

Workshop #3- Why I Soar Visual Description

3

Then cut them into the
shapes and attach to the body
of our bird template.

Workshop #3- Why I Soar Visual Description
5
4

Then we will write down the Tear paper into little pieces
elements that make up our

wings.

Workshop #3- Why I Soar Visual Description
7
6

Then gather up

Toss the torn into pieces into the air so
they can fly

Workshop #3- Why I Soar Visual Description

8

Glue pieces to the wings

Workshop #3- Why I Soar

(36) Colored (18) Scissors Supply List
Paper or tissue (18) Rulers (18) Bird Template
paper
(18) Pencils (1 jar) Paint
(18) Stencil
(18) pens (18) Paint Brushes
(1 jar) Mod Podge brushes for
glue (36 ) containers
for glue and paint
(18) Pieces of
Cardboard



Workshop #3- Why I Soar

Care and Storage for the Materials

Papers should be stored flat
Markers should be capped so they do not dry out

Step-by-step instructions including time breakdown in minutes for each step
for the workshop leader

Set up:

Layout: Papers, pen, pencil, scissors, stencil, stencil brush, cardboard, paint, tray for paint, container for
Mod Podge, water cups in the center of the table for used brushes

Instruction

Stencil bird onto cardboard (5min)
Write foundational words and thoughts on one piece of paper(10min)
Cut out the words into shapes and decoupage onto the body of the bird (5 min)
Write the words that give you wings (10 min)
Tare the paper up and toss the scraps in the air so they can experience flight and then collect up (5 min)
Decoupage the torn up pieces onto the wings. 10 min

Breakdown

Discard extra paper scraps
Cap all pens
Gather up all tools and set aside for workshop facilitator to collect.

Workshop #3- Why I Soar

Instruction and Assistance during the workshop

Demonstrate stenciling bird onto cardboard
Wash brushes or make sure they soak to prevent from drying out
Explain the types of things the girls can write for the foundation page
Demonstrate ways to cut shapes to be attached to bird
Demonstrate attaching scraps with Mod Podge
Explain the type of things the girls can write for the wings page
Explain the significance for tossing the scraps in the air
Assist the girls with picking up the scraps

Clean-up

Collect all left over paper scraps to discard.
Wash brushes with soap and water
Collect all the tools used
Store all papers in a flat dry place

Additional Guidance

Discussions during the workshop about individuality
Discussions during the workshop about the metaphor of the bird soaring through the
sky.

Workshop #3- Why I Soar

Images and Examples

Workshop #3- Why I Soar

References

http://twindragonflydesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Quote-252520Wall-
252520Art-252520-25252810-252529_thumb.jpg
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00178QQJ8/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=194
4687522&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-
1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000HWY6EW&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=16GJD
20A6G5PHESG10MW

Workshop #4- A Day of Dust and Sunshine

Theme: Social Justice-Character Building

The Goal of the Workshop

To create a landscape with Henna and watercolors

Workshop Introduction/ Explanation
• Difficult life situations can be like sandstorms.
• They are a natural part of life.
• We will start our piece by drawing symbols that represent us with Henna on
watercolor paper.
• Once dry, we will sand the dry henna, creating a dust storm over out piece.
• Once the dust settles, we will collect some of the residue and give it back to
the earth. The remaining residue on our page can remain.
• Once the dust has returned to the earth we can paint the new landscape with
our watercolors. This will symbolize a new beginning.
• Some of the dust may remain in the background, like a memory.
• The watercolor, however, will wash much of it way.

Workshop #4- A Day of Dust and Sunshine

Visual Description

Difficult life situations can be like sandstorms.
They are a natural part of life.

Workshop #4- A Day of Dust and Sunshine Visual Description

1

We will start our piece by drawing symbols that
represent us with Henna on watercolor paper.

Workshop #4- A Day of Dust and Sunshine

Visual Description

2

Once Henna is Dry
Sand henna design in circular
motion to make a dust storm.

Workshop #4- A Day of Dust and Sunshine Visual Description

34

Once the dust settles, we will
collect some of the residue and

give it back to the earth. The
remaining residue on our page

can remain.

Workshop #4- A Day of Dust and Sunshine Visual Description

4

Paint the new landscape with our watercolors. This will symbolize a
new beginning.

Some of the dust may remain in the background, like a memory.
The watercolor, however, will wash much of it way.

Workshop #4- A Day of Dust and Sunshine

(25) Watercolor (1) Scissor Supply List
Paper (18) Rags or paper
towels

(18) Pencils (18)
Watercolor
(18) Henna Palettes
tubes (18) Paint
(1 sheet) Brush packs
Sandpaper (18 ) containers
for water

Workshop #4- A day of Dust and Sunshine

Care and Storage for the Materials

Papers should be stored flat
Henna should be sealed and stored so they do not dry out or leak
Watercolors should be wiped and closed completely
Brushes should be stored so bristles don’t loose shape

Step-by-step instructions including time breakdown in minutes for each step
for the workshop leader

Set up:

Layout: Papers, henna, pencil, paint brushes, watercolors, rag or paper towel, water container,
Cut small rectangles of sandpaper from the large sheet and place one piece at each setting

Instruction

Use Henna to create deigns and symbols on the left side of the paper (10min)
After Henna Dries use sandpaper to gently sand some of the raised henna away (5min)
Dust the Henna residue off and take it outside and put it on the ground (5 min)
Used the watercolor paints to paint a landscape(20 min)

Breakdown

Collect the Henna syringes
Wash brushes
Wipe off tables
Clean water containers
Gather up all tools and set aside for workshop facilitator to collect.

Workshop #4- A Day of Dust and Sunshine

Instruction and Assistance during the workshop

Demonstrate some examples of symbols
Demonstrate use of Henna on paper
Pick up Henna packets and store for future use.
Demonstrate sanding of Henna
Assist with collecting the Henna dust and taking outside
Demonstrate use of watercolors

Clean-up

Collect the Henna packets and seal
Wash brushes
Wipe off tables
Clean water containers
Gather up all tools and set aside for workshop facilitator to collect.
Store all papers in a flat dry place

Additional Guidance

Discussions during the workshop about symbolism and Henna
Discussions during the workshop about overcoming challenges

Workshop #4- A Day of Dust and Sunshine

Images and Examples

Workshop #4- A Day of Dust and Sunshine

References

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/151294784281?ul_noapp=true&chn=ps&lpid=82

Workshop #5- My Garden

Theme: Empowerment- Character Building

The Goal of the Workshop
To teach the art of printmaking with repurposed materials.

Workshop Introduction/ Explanation
• We will create prints of abstract gardens using plastic bags, paint, cardboard,
wax paper.
• We will use our feelings to paint our beautiful abstract gardens on wax paper
and then place our watercolor paper over it and transfer the image.
• The paper and wax paper will be placed between two pieces of cardboard
and we will use a plastic spoon to rub the pack to transfer of the image.
• Once the transfer is complete we will lift the water color paper to reveal our
abstract mono-print garden.

Workshop #5- My Garden

Visual Description

Imagination My Garden

We will use our thoughts and feelings to paint
our beautiful abstract gardens