Second day-  again worked with five kids aged 4 to 10 /11same number as last week, still the whole schoolroom felt much busier- maybe because there were more adults (one to each child!) (including Claire, the teacher student from last week and a post-grad visitor).

 Started with a brief introduction of the project & the day ´s schedule/ planned activities. Even though one of these activities fell through( Video Live link with other hospitals- we did not have internet from 10 to 2), this structure proofed helpful and the envisaged time slots seamed to work.

Responding to the overall project theme “intercultural dialogue” I introduced myself in German & English & encouraged them do so as well if they knew another language. To provide an option to learn something of each other and to possibly encourage bilingual children to pick their non-English language for their puppet-character. ( Learned some Spanish & Irish!)

We watched last week ´s video on the big white screen - this explained much more than I could have in words, gave an idea of the possibilities of puppetry/ Video and introduced the idea of a magical door to another world.

The materials I introduced for the set making were clay & a selection of natural materials from the woods… I have roughly planned to bring in a different selection of natural materials at each session, to inspire different worlds the children could find behind the magical door they enter…

Whilst making the puppets, children chatted and came up with a story. Children and dinosaurs were made (one boy picked a book from the school ´s bookshelves for inspiration) and the story with a dramatic metamorphosis came about. A four year old girl, very shy in the start, had made a mini version of herself who would ride the dinosaur (and already, the puppet-portal seems to connect hospitals across the country, as well without video-link: in another school, I read, puppets rode on dinosaurs as well!). One boy (whose puppet would turn into the beast...) tried out great dino-sounds whilst making- unfortunately I did not remember later-neither did we use the different languages in the film- should find a way to focus on the use of sound and voice!

There was some movement, in-and outs due to visitors, physiotherapy and other treatment- -one of the boys missed most of the session, but having been there the week before he was he just jumped into the process and helped the younger kids and joined in the video making.

When puppets and set were finished we came together to plan the Video, a short discussion which was facilitated of the student teacher. We had musical instruments as well which the teacher brought in. I realized at the stage some kids were tired and some found it hard to concentrate. I guess the idea of a storyboard/ fixing responsibilities visually may help to plan for next sessions.

They had great fun performing for the filming. I used my own camera. Next time I ´ll bring in a Tripod to get a better quality film as well as have a safe way for one of the children to operate the camera.

Even though we had a little rehearsal, focusing on visibility and puppet animation, the video is quite chaotic. They were too tired and just not interested in filming again as I proposed (they were perfectly happy with the chaotic version).

I guess a day is very short to really rehearse the show, so will continue trying to set up the Videoing as easy as possible.

 After the kids had filled out the evaluation forms, we watched our video which they all enjoyed. There was some time left and some boys improvised with their puppets and the little mobile-sized camera- had a laugh! Lots of fights, clay-creatures falling apart…

 In the afternoon one boy (who had been the storyteller during the film) helped me to upload and name images onto Ait Eile.

All together it was an exciting day.  

There ´s great support throughout all the different participants in the project.As well at the hospital, all ae very involved and supportive. Questions and concerns are addressed, ideas are shared through contact (mainly via mail but phone as well) with the other artist, the evaluator and KidsOwn. My first mentorship session via phone with artist Ann Henderson helped me to name both, achievements and challenges ,generated some new ideas and impulse. I am especially interested in finding a way to translate one of Ann´s suggestions concerning my theme of portals/ doors t magical & natural spaces: Is there an actual, real space within the hospital that I can transform into that magical space?

I am thinking about rolling out turf, planting cress-maybe creating one space containing elements of all the sets/ spaces the children created (for example, from the first 2 sessions, papaer stairs and tree-clay sculptiures, a moon, signposts)…will see.

As well I will start creating an interactive book to stay in the classroom. First I thought this might double the idea of the Journal on Ait Eile. But I think it can give insight into the project as well for passer-byes and interested parents who might not have chance/ time to look up the net- and a way for children to maybe add comments, spin stories , develop ideas when i´m not there.

This may contain images, sketches, printed images from past classes, and might be a chance to create a continuous story made up from the different stories the children made in the individual sessions.