From the classrooms of a school in Vitoria to be exhibited at the Guggenheim

Art as a tool to experiment and learn in a practical way some of the contents of different subjects taught in schools. With this conviction, the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao has been developing the ‘Learning through art’ program since the late 1990s, in collaboration with different educational centers in the Basque Country. Among the six that have participated in its latest edition is Escolapios Calasanz from Vitoria, selected along with La Arboleda from Trápaga, Artatse from Bilbao, Eretza Berri from Sodupe, Manuela Zubizarreta from Etxebarria and Katalin Erauso from Donostia. In total, 98 apprentice artists – between six and twelve years old – have participated in an initiative that has been developed this year in the classrooms of the school in the capital of Alava. There, ten students have been tutored during the course by Professor Natxo Oyanguren and encouraged by the artist Nerea Lekuona, who has recently exhibited in Saxony on the occasion of the Makers United festival.

The fruits of the project will also be visible. The different works they have designed can now be seen at the Bilbao museum on the occasion of an exhibition open from June 17 to September 15, in the titanium giant’s education space. In a hallway in the same center that has in its collection works by greats such as Mark Rothko, Richard Serra, Yayoi Kusama or Jeff Koons.

The project developed by the Vitorian school is called ‘Art that is eaten’ and has been part of a pilot program. The students, a small group from the last cycle of Primary, reflected on food, a topic full of references to the “art world”, as the museum points out. For example, one of the works that can be seen is composed of different vegetables that shape a face. Something that in some way refers to the representations of the Italian painter Arcimboldo. “They explored the relationship between food and art throughout history, they learned how color and its mixtures work by observing seasonal fruits and vegetables,” they detail about the process. They also cooked sugar-free cookies in the shape of letters and analyzed some processed elements, which allowed them to understand the importance of a healthy and varied diet.

Enhance “creativity”

From the Bilbao museum they highlight that with this program “creativity and curiosity are enhanced and new perspectives emerge to address the subjects of the school curriculum.” Specifically, Escolapios students have carried out a project that is linked to social and natural sciences. In addition to demanding healthy eating.

Other artists such as Elssie Ansareo, Ibon Garagarza, Zaloa lpiña, Maider López and Manu Muniategiandikoetxea have participated in this pedagogical and creative work. «The experience has been exciting. The participation of students and teachers has guided the entire project. With several small elements taken from nature we have managed to generate greatness,” Ipiña highlights the shared sensation of weaving art and school learning. The educational vocation of museums has become increasingly noticeable in recent times with different activities and proposals. Proof of this is this initiative or the school programs carried out by Artium Museoa.