Projects
Here is where you will find the work I have facilitated in collaborative projects with schools, youth groups and multi-disciplinary exhibitions within the wider community
Joy in the everyday
“Art is something that makes you breathe with a different kind of happiness” - Anni Albers
Liza Kavanagh is a Visual Artist and Facilitator who has worked on a a wide range of projects, including collaborative projects with schools, youth groups and multi-disciplinary exhibitions within the wider community.
With a background in Early Childhood Care and Education, Liza is passionate about engaging children of all ages in the arts and understands how important it is to champion creativity within schools. Liza is TAP+ trained and is currently a guest lecturer at the Maynooth University Froebel Department of Primary and Early Childhood Education lecturing in the Visual Arts Curriculum for Bachelor of Education.
Of her own work, Liza says “What excites me about making pictures is trying to capture the essence of a thing and the simple joy to be found in the everyday. I have always been attracted to patterns, textures and the decorative qualities of ceramic ware and love to play with the shapes of the objects that inhabit my work.”
TAP+ Project
Daingean National School, 2024
(TAP+ (Teacher Artist Partnership+) is a Department of Education-approved professional development course for teachers, artists and creative practitioners to work in partnership with children in primary and special schools. The programme supports and enhances arts education in primary and special schools, to develop the creative potential and voice of every child.)
Working in partnership with the teacher and children in 3rd class in Daingean, we began our project with some outdoor explorations and mark making activities. The local waterways provided a great source of inspiration for the children’s initial work. Our project evolved to working on Egypt and the Nile incorporating curricular integration for linkage. The class made there own version of papyrus paper and created scrolls with images inspired by ancient Egyptian art. The project concluded with an exhibition of the children’s work in the school hall.
TAP+ Project
Gaelscoil Chill Dara, 2024
Exploring the theme of ‘An t-earrach’ (Spring), this was a mixed media project with the junior infant class (ages 4 - 6)
During this project with students from the Gaelscoil Chill Dara, the children, teacher and I explored the natural environment outside the classroom and created some drawings of what we discovered. Then, using paint, collage, chalk and pencils, we participated in a variety of mixed media art activities including creating individual books about Spring and a large-scale collaborative spring flower collage.
BRIGID 1500 Creative Project
Kildare Educate Together National School, Kildare Town, 2023 - 2024
Brigid 1500 Brigid 1500 is a comprehensive program aimed at celebrating and commemorating the life and legacy of St. Brigid.
With the assistance of a grant grant awarded by Kildare County Council Arts Service, Liza undertook a project with two Kildare schools. Working with different age groups, Liza facilitated a multi-disciplinary creative project inspired by Brigid of Kildare. The children worked in a variety of mediums including clay, textiles, collage and print. The project culminated in the students’ work being included in ‘Unravelling an Icon’, a curated exhibition with SULT Artists Collective. Visited by thousands during Brigid 1500 celebrations in February 2024, the exhibition featured work by Irish and International artists, displayed in various venues in Kildare Town.
Follow me on Instagram @lizakavanaghart
