Digging up ancient wisdom and tales of the oldest cultures, our RAZ Summer Art Campers' world quest, themed "Unity Through Diversity," began in the Middle East.
Art Campers had fun getting their RAZ Passports stamped at each country they "toured" places on the other side of their world this week including; Israel, Morocco, Iran, and Egypt. They recorded the names and capitals of each country, drew their flags, and collected currency.
Painting project: Campers were challenged to paint a concept after hearing an ancient story about creation and how it relates to new beginnings in their lives.
The first week of 2021 RAZ Summer Art camp’s world tour started in the Middle East, from where ancient wisdom and many stories of creation about the world have come. One of the stories came from the ancient wisdom of Kabbalah. The root meaning within the heart of the word “Kabbalah” is “to receive.”
Telling that story RAZ founder Yael Lichaa illustrated how this world started when there was chaos and darkness. "There was a force of good that caused the earth to emerge into perfect order with only blessings and light. That force, of only good and light, just wanted to give. It was called Ein Sof, which means Endless (pronounced Ane’ Sof).
Projects: Making collages of a peaceful magical place and Morrocian tiles.
The story continued:
Ein Sof wanted to share so much it decided to create a human being whom it named Adam. Doesn’t this name sound like the word atom? Ein Sof had already made a magical garden called Eden and placed Adam in this outdoor home.
Adam’s soul was giant and embodied all of what would eventually become the many nations of our world. Because the many nations had come from the same source they were connected, even though the peoples had spread throughout all the continents on planet earth and become very different.”
RAZ Art instructors dressed in Moroccain theme. Hagit Damito, Yael Lichaa and Kimberly Grace.
The story continued:
But there was a big problem. This problem has kept happening throughout history. Can you guess? If the people didn't know how to play together or be friends or create in spite of their differences, what would happen? How bad could things get?
That big problem is our challenge today too. What do you think could make it better? Within ancient wisdom from the Middle East were secrets with some answers like in the story. “Even though we are all very different, we are all connected and need each other.”
While "touring" Iran and Persia Art Campers made their own story characters in a project: Drawing and painting mythical creatures with watercolors
Sculpting Project of Persian royalty characters
Project Tie-Dye T-shirts; Kids made a colorful personal work of art they could wear.
Leo Carrillo State Beach, Malibu field trip
Children collected treasures of the sea to put on the Eqyptian boats they planned to build.
In the country of Egypt
Campers learned to write their name in Egyptian heiroglyphics.
“Weeee!’ exclaimed new friends as they decorated their Egyptian boat projects with treasures found from Wednesday’s field trip to the Leo Carillo State Park.
Art campers got to paint their own RAZ technology zipper pouch and learned principals of the color wheel, including primary, secondary and tertiary.
Game: Tables of campers were challenged to assemble the tallest tower the fastest -- without speaking!
Children got to spend the RAZ coins they earned for good conduct in the "tourist shop." This activity was a big hit.
Children got great exercise while learning a Persian dance with awardwinning dance instructor Shive.
Kids had so many unique art works they made to take home in their RAZ backpacks and show their family and friends. In addition to stories, all week campers had discovered cultural art, fun facts and food from the countries of Israel, Morocco, Iran, Persia and Egypt.
By exploring, the kids learned to appreciate each culture with its traditions, beauty and uniqueness and experienced a growing unity through their own diversities with each other.
Next week campers will go on an African Safari in week 2 of RAZ world tour, "Unity Through Diversity."
Summer 2021 Weekly Schedule for RAZ Art Camp
The Middle East was week 1
in
The 2021 RAZ Summer Art Camp world tour
"Unity Through Diversity."
Each week's educational and cultural art experience is part of the summer RAZ curriculum to immerse children in discovering and "traveling" the world over 10 weeks (June 14 - Aug 20). While staying at the RAZ studio in Beverly Hills kids learn geography, history, and social studies as they explore 7 continents.
See what's up next on the schedule
