HOT: Light Play, ArtPlay, Birrarung Marr

Regular blog readers will know that we’re frequent visitors to ArtPlay. What you may not know is that in addition to the paid workshops and shows they put on there is usually a rotation of free exhibits. Light Play, which is exhibiting from 8 January to 30 March, is one of the best ones we’ve experienced.

Light Play comes to Melbourne from the Ipswich Art Gallery (QLD). It uses simple props which together are effective in teaching kids about the way light, mirrors and colours work together to create artistic lightscapes. Kids can interact with overhead projectors, light boxes, transparent and opaque objects and discover what happens when light is cast on different materials. Lady AB had a lot of fun moving from station to station, watching shapes and colours change and catching reflections with the mini webcam and a pyramid mirror to create a kaleidoscope effect. 

Apparently Light Play is informed by the philosophies of Reggio Emilia and Remida which encourages children to learn through collaborative play, experimentation and discovery-based learning. Anyhow, it’s fun and educational and free!