We have celebrated the Garden of Fire Festival previously, but this year was certainly memorable. Although this summer was mostly a rainy washout, the weather was on our side COMPLETELY for this festival! Rain fell before the event began and there was a MAJOR downpour just after I packed up my supplies, but not a drop while we played outdoors.
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| Let the Festival Begin |
Members of the Corning Native American Council led the opening ceremony with chants of unity, health, and happiness. There were nearly 400 people from 6 area youth agencies on premises to enjoy this experience. The purpose of this festival is to celebrate six weeks of art education with an "earth" theme.
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| Earthy Centerpiece |
The crowd congregated around the Three Sisters sculpture made of glass and metal. Three artists collaborated to create this permanent fixture at Care First in Coopers Plains. Mud was used this year to add an earth element by means of a sculpture of the Sky Woman, an Iroquois Creation Story. Students worked under the direction of artists to create the work, but had their own voice to develop the depiction.
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| Paint Earth's Elements |
This activity packed celebration offered treats in every corner of the property. Several organizations participated to create a variety of options. There were canvases for collaborative representations of the earth's elements. The Food Bank of the Southern Tier offered a mobile farmers market and every child got to fill a bag with fresh vegetables.
The Southeast Steuben County Library provided two separate activities.
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| harp & heART |
Maryalice brought her harp to offer some "Music and Creativity." She played songs of varying tempo and beat. Students were asked to use different types of drawing media to let the music dictate their imagery.
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| "Nancy" on the Road |
My Giant Knitting Nancy loom made another appearance this year. I brought this loom to the first Garden of Fire festival in 2013, but many of the kids who wove on it then are now in college. Ironically, the kids who used the loom this year turned it into a game. Kids entered the end of the weaving, shimmied toward the center of the loom, then hit it in reverse to exit the weaving. I have taken this loom to several events and this has never happened.
A knitting nancy or ned was used historically to create woven tubing. Items such as fishing nets, stockings, and socks were made with these looms, but I wanted to demonstrate to students that they can produce similar creations using their own fingers.
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| Patience is Important |
Providing a photo tutorial was intended to help guide the students to learn on their own, but I discovered that the festival atmosphere had each kid on activity overload.
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| Calming Activity |
Finger weaving or knitting creates tubing with versatile uses. Headbands, belts, bracelets and necklaces were the options to make, depending upon time and patience.
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| Nimble Fingers |
Some students grasped this technique and made long rope!
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| Quick and Simple |
With limited time to learn and create, a few kids created bracelets, which only took 5 minutes to make.
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| Try and Try Again |
Some adult students had the hardest time grasping the technique to this weaving process.
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| Quick Learners |
Some students quickly learned the technique, then shared their knowledge, allowing me a lunch break.
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| Festival's End |
To end the festival, everyone gathered for a closing ceremony. The Corning Native American Council along with some magnificent drummers led chants and songs, students recited poetry and team administrators thanked everyone for a wonderful event.
It was a joy to be part of such a magnificent youth program in my community.
I wonder what the theme will be in 2018.
For more information on Garden of Fire, visit:
Check back soon for coverage of the week-long Theatre Camp with Centre Stage Community Theatre.
Thanks for visiting!
~erica
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