Rivers of the World Workshop

 Over the course of two days 24 girls designed and made humming birds from fabric. This workshop is part of the Rivers of the World, which is sponsored by the British Council.   This project was inspired by the Humming Birds that are around the Jhelum River, which is near our partner school in Pakistan.  The visiting artists (Shona and Michelle) helped to inspire the girls to create these beautiful birds. 

I had an amazing time making the humming birds from sketching the outline, to stuffing them with scrapes of fabric! I learnt how to sew sequins and how to make their long, thin beaks. Also, I loved making their little feet! Shona and Michelle were so helpful whenever I needed help. Every bird made was one of a kind and all looked amazing. I think it is great being linked to another school, especially in a different country. -Alisa

During the Rivers of the Worlds workshops I  took part in both days  of the experience. I really enjoyed the workshop because it enabled me and hundreds of other children to look into what art is like and how it is expressed in different forms, depending on the culture and traditions.  Rivers of the World was an amazing experience for me and it helped me open my eyes to many more expressions of art. - Amaia Aguinaga

The Rivers of the World workshop was challenging but plenty of fun; while having to make life-size exotic birds from pieces of fabric. The project resulted in a room full of decorative and unique humming birds, all thanks to the great artists Shona and Michelle. They took the time to organise a successful and fun Rivers of the World workshop!- Fatwima Hingah

In the Rivers of the World project, I had so much fun and it was great experience. I loved meeting Shona and her assistant. It was such a privilege to be chosen out of some many girls, i really appreciated it. The best thing about this was making the humming bird and using so many colours and fabrics. the workshop was in the newspaper and my next wish is to meet the school in Pakistan. Priyanha Prabakaran

Truck art in Pakistan

The tradition of painting trucks in Pakistan is long and colourful.

It started out as a way for truck drivers to take reminders of home with them on long journeys, and over the years drivers have used everything from wood, metal, jangling chains, shiny objects and even 3D creations to decorate their trucks. 

 Pakistan correspondent, for the BBC, Aleem Maqbool soon discovered the more elaborate and vibrant the better

 

Description:

The title of this piece is taken from a poem by Faiz Ahmed Faiz , a renowned Pakistani poet and one of the most famous poets of the Urdu

language.  An upside down heart shrouded in a shield, the piece is reminiscent of the poet’s appeal, who combined in his poetry the

themes of love, beauty, and political ideals. Faiz wrote poems that opposed the bloodshed occurring in what became Bangladesh during the

conflict with Pakistan. Due to his opposition to the government and military dictators, Faiz spent several years in prison and was forced

to go into exile at different times in his career. Next to Muhammad Iqbal , Faiz is one of the best-known poets of Pakistan. Below is an exert from My Heart, My Fellow Traveller:

My heart, my fellow traveller
It has been decreed again
That you and I be exiled,
go calling out in every street,
turn to every town.
To search for a clue
of a messenger from our Beloved.
To ask every stranger
the way back to our home