This week, we have been extremely lucky to host some Japanese artists at our school. Small groups of Year 5 and
6 children participated in either a wood carving and printing session, or an ikebana session. The Japanese wood
block carving and printing was taught by professional artist Hiroko Imada. The children designed a wave, based
on Hokusai’s famous woodblock print of The Wave, which they then traced onto a woodblock, using carbon paper. Using special Japanese wood cutting tools, Hiroko showed them how to use the tools safely and they chipped away at the wood to reveal their design. The printing process was quite technical, but all the children rose to the challenge and we now have some special wave prints that they are very proud of! Over the next few
weeks, more groups of Year 5 and 6 will also print from the woodblocks and will turn hundreds of prints into abstract wave installations!

A group of children also practiced ikebana, which is the Japanese art of flower arranging; a tradition over a 1000
years old. Ikebana aims to bring out the inner qualities of flowers and other live materials, and express emotion.
If you would like to see any of the Japanese art the children have produced, it will be exhibited at Coventry Cathedral from Friday 2nd July 2021. A small group of Year 5 and 6 children will represent our school at the exhibition opening to talk to visitors about the art they have created.