The Creative Learning Project at two schools in Holton le Clay near Grimsby in Lincolnshire was completed successfully on the

7th July 2006. Aged between 7 and 9 years, 75 children from both Infants and Junior Schools participated in the project, combining the printmaking skills of Jonathan Korejko with the music talents of Liam Robinson, to help the children gain a better understand of their heritage and local environment. Much emphasis was also placed on helping to the children to understand the importance of collaboration and teamwork, whilst improving their social and communication skills at the same time. Teachers from the schools were fully immersed in the process as well, taking children on outings to nearby museums, an aquarium, the beach and salt marshes, as well as mounting displays, writing poetry and making clay models with the young participants. At the same time, the teachers, ancillaries, classroom assistants and other members of staff all became part of the printmaking unit, not only helping to make the workshop a safe to print in, but also gaining useful skills in preparing and printing printblocks. Jonathans relief printing unit made use of two customised, second-hand mangles from old washing machines to print onto paper and fabric. Children were taught how to design, cut, ink and print blocks made of thick cardboard. By the end of the project all ages and ability levels were capable of printing clear and concise imagery. Jonathan was the overall artistic director in the print room, and helped the children at the beginning of the programme to develop their ideas about the fishing heritage of nearby Grimsby, creating three long banners showing very colourful fish caught up in nets. All groups then made an outing to Horseshoe Point; a stretch of mud flat to the south of the Humber estuary, not far from seal breeding grounds as well as the RAFs bombing range! Here, children, teachers and artists absorbed the sights, sounds, colours and textures of the magnificent open land/seascape, whilst making notes in sketch books and gathering artefacts to take back to school. Liam made use of this visit to inspire the children to write poems, songs, and make recordings of sounds in his makeshift studio over a period of days. These sound images and songs were then edited on his computer at home to produce a lively CD of childrens voices, poems and sea shanties in which all of the children took part.

Jonathan Korejko 2006 , 12 Church Lane, Timberland, Lincoln LN4 3SB tel 01526 378222 email jj.ck@zen.co.uk

Meanwhile, Jonathan continued with the children to produce new print blocks depicting sky, sea, grass, and beach, as well as images of shells, crabs, grasses, clouds, ships and RAF jets. These printblocks were then used create a large, 220 x 70 cm banner entitled Horseshoe Point, which became a visual commemoration of the trip made to the coas t. The printing programme was then finished by printing 6 windsocks on cloth. New blocks were made of the childrens bare feet to represent Footprints in the Sand, and these, along with other printblocks (fish, clouds, crabs etc.), were printed onto pre-cut cloth templates and finally stitched up into the traditional windsock shape. These were hung from 4 metre high posts to blow in the school playing fields.

A final event on the last day of the project took place at the Infants school, listening to the sound CD and viewing the printed images and banners. Liam and the children sang some of the newly composed songs, and Jonathan took the group outside to install the windsocks . Here, the children were once again lead by Liam through a series of dance numbers which he accompanied using his now famous squeeze box.

The CD, banners, windsocks and exhibitions will be displayed in both venues from the 10th of July onwards.

Jonathan Korejko 11 July 2006

Jonathan Korejko 2006 , 12 Church Lane, Timberland, Lincoln LN4 3SB tel 01526 378222 email jj.ck@zen.co.uk

At work in the printshop, inking up and using the press.

Jonathan Korejko 2006 , 12 Church Lane, Timberland, Lincoln LN4 3SB tel 01526 378222 email jj.ck@zen.co.uk

Teamwork and concentration were required to print the large banner

Jonathan Korejko 2006 , 12 Church Lane, Timberland, Lincoln LN4 3SB tel 01526 378222 email jj.ck@zen.co.uk

The finished products

.

Fish and Nets 2

35 x 200 cm

Fish and Nets 3

35 x 200 cm

Horseshoe Point

70 x 220cm

Footprints in the Sand 20 x 70cm

Display by teacher SallyHackney

150 x 210 cm

Jonathan Korejko 2006 , 12 Church Lane, Timberland, Lincoln LN4 3SB tel 01526 378222 email jj.ck@zen.co.uk

Liam leads the children in singing sea shanties and in a final dance.

Jonathan Korejko 2006 , 12 Church Lane, Timberland, Lincoln LN4 3SB tel 01526 378222 email jj.ck@zen.co.uk