Art with Seniors - Symmetry

The prepared materials:

I choose a range of materials so as to move from very simple art work to challenging. I knew we had a couple of women who really enjoyed doing art in the group today, so I was confident that they would be able to do each of the symmetry activities.


 First activity - very basic introduction to symmetry cutting.


(sorry can't find the link)

Second activity - draw a curved line or shape on a piece of folded construction paper and then cut it out.




Some of the seniors are cable of making a flower cut-out like the above, but most aren't. Therefore, I made a second symmetry demonstration piece that required only the ability to draw a wiggly line.


Third activity - these handouts are much more challenging then the first ones. I modified this particular activity. I had them illustrate the outlined half of a butterfly, cut it out and then free-hand illustrate the other blank wing with their own design. So technically, these were not symmetrical in regards to the illustrations, but were in regards to the shape.


(butterfly illustration)

Fourth activity  - I choose this particular drawing because it is of  a wolf. I try to bring to the art and the creativity writing projects local elements. Wolves are well known in Alaska.


Before I handed out the first symmetry art activity, I defined symmetry for the group and discussed examples of it. As soon as the small sheets of paper with the half images printed on them were distributed by myself and my assistant, the seniors began cutting.


She was so surprised when she open up the cut out paper and saw that it was now a heart.


After everyone had cut-out their first activity, they began the second one. Pencils were being used to draw a variety of shapes and things on the folded piece of construction paper.




She saw the paper outline from her tree and said, "I like that." Soon she was busy trying to fit it on to a page of paper so as to glue it on.


Next, the butterfly illustration was passed out. Colored pencils were also provided, as well as scissors. 


 The butterflies were beautifully illustrated.


All worked with deep concentration on their art.


Here are two of the finished butterflies for you to view:



I cleaned up the work tables a little and then passed out the wolf sheets. I walked around the table and explained to everyone how to do this work; that they were to draw the other side of the wolf's face. I also handed out a completed image of the wolf's face - one half was a photograph and the other a student's (from a school outside of Alaska) illustration. I was growing concerned that the seniors might be getting tired and that I was putting before them too much work. But, the wolf is a favorite image locally, so all reached for the sheets as they were passed out.

(Note: Most of the women that are photographed below are over 85 years old. )








Yet, not everyone participated. One senior stated, "Oh, I'm just not into all of that. I would rather read." That is exactly what she did.


However, every now and then, she walked over to the tables were the art was being made and praised one senior's work or another.


Another senior is very detail oriented. She likes to organize the materials for making the art more than making the art itself. She also likes to be of assistance to those doing the art work. When one of the other seniors wanted help gluing their cut-out onto a piece of construction paper, it was this senior who I invited to do the gluing. She agreed to help immediately.


She then looked at the first symmetrical project papers, specifically the heart. A puzzled look came over her face. "Someone forgot to draw the lines on the other side of this paper," she said. A moment later, she had one in her hand and was using another to draw lines. She was very serious about her work. This was her art activity.

Photos and commentary:

She noted the folded half of a heart and then opened it. This is when she saw one side was blank. She was not interested in or even acknowledged symmetry nor that the lines were to be drawn by each individual after they cut the heart out. Instead, this simply lacked order to her. It did not make sense. It was incomplete, unfinished. She needed to carefully draw the lines on it so that it would be complete and then it would resonate order for her.