Saturday, August 30, 2008
Planet Arlington 2008!
Luke Idziak's Bikeman kinetic sculpture.
Puppetmaster and magician David London gave an eye-opening performance called The Adventure to the Imagi-Nation. This inspired children to make their own puppets from reusable materials.
David London performing his Imagi-Nation Magic Show
¶ 5:00 PM 
Planet Arlington's World Playground, took place over Labor Day weekend duiring the World Music Festival and featured educational workshops that inspired people to think twice about throwing away their garbage. The annual festival focuses on issues of immigration, globalization and the environment through the lens of the arts and humanities. Many of the workshops focused on the planet's resources and how to conserve them. By reusing materials, parents and children were able to make creative art objects. Led by professional artists from Virginia, New York City and the Washignton DC area, the World Playground drew hundreds of people to Iwo Jima Memorial Grounds in Rossyln to celebrate art, music and Planet Earth.
Artist Luke Idziak and Phoenix Bikes gave a workshop on making bike decorations out of reusable materials. Visitors could ride away with their unique creations made of colorful paper and blinking lights!
Luke Idziak's Bikeman kinetic sculpture.Puppetmaster and magician David London gave an eye-opening performance called The Adventure to the Imagi-Nation. This inspired children to make their own puppets from reusable materials.
David London performing his Imagi-Nation Magic Show
Surrounded by fruits and vegetables from the Court House Plaza Farmers’ Market, DC artist Anita Walsh reminded people to look closer at the world they live in. Her Observe Drawing Project was a relaxing mixture of detailed instruction and cozy picnic blankets. Drawing en plein aire beneath the clear blue sky, visitors were welcome to pick their produce of choice and create beautiful color pencil renderings.
Delicious treasures from the local Farmer's Market!
Kristina Bilonick teaches the screen printing process.
Ellipse Arts Center Education Programmer, Lisa Marie Thalhammer and Director of Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources, Dinesh Tiwari hang screenprinted T-shirts out to dry.
Carolina Mayorga's Stuffed Paper Animals tent.
Carolina Mayorga (right) selecting a paper fish for the Children's Stage decorations.
Ellipse intern Jamillah Abdullah (left) and Cultural Affairs' Darlene Robinson (right)
Kristina Bilonick held a tee-shirt screen printing workshop called D.I.Y. Wardrobe Refashioning, proving that clothes can be recycled too! D.I.Y. stands for “Do it Yourself” and this activity was as hands-on as they get! Using a handmade silk screen set up and photo quality designs, everyone had a blast applying the ink and transferring the images.
Kristina Bilonick teaches the screen printing process.Ellipse Arts Center Education Programmer, Lisa Marie Thalhammer and Director of Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources, Dinesh Tiwari hang screenprinted T-shirts out to dry. Across the World Playground, visitors could try on clothes from around the world with costumer Joan Lynch and the Global Closet. Virginia artist, Greta Gonzales created unique face painting designs especially for Planet Arlington, turning children into colorful tigers, cheetahs and butterflies! This fit right in with Nai Davis’ Musical Safari, where children could learn about instruments from far off places.
Carolina Mayorga’s Stuffed Paper Animals project had parents and children making penguins, mandarins, butterflies, fish and grizzly bears. Filled with shredded paper and 100% recyclable, these cute, paper toys were a popular activity.
Carolina Mayorga (right) selecting a paper fish for the Children's Stage decorations.
Ellipse intern Jamillah Abdullah (left) and Cultural Affairs' Darlene Robinson (right)
With so many workshops to choose from and so much music to hear, Planet Arlington’s World Playground is the highlight of summertime in Rosslyn.
See you next year!
