Block-playing artists

Arts & Activities, March, 2004 by George Szekely

COLLECTING BLOCKS Children find blocks to build with even if they are invisible to adults. When I was a child, the coal pile was one of my favorite playgrounds where I secretly selected the best pieces to build with and carefully washed my hands so that the forbidden artistry would go undetected.

In the art room, we pool our finds of erasers, rulers, books, pencils or lunch boxes for building. A large trunk is opened up for collecting interesting sponges. Expert collectors have netted such impressive building sets as plastic storage baskets, classy perfume boxes, and take-out food containers.

Participants in collecting unusual blocks appreciate their maiden trials, and help develop new building categories for future collectors. We encourage the search for vintage block sets at yard sales, antique stores, collectors books, and on the Internet. Examining early LEGOS (which used to be cylindrical shapes) and other rarities from the art teacher's collection builds an interest in the rich visual history of play blocks.

CREATING BLOCKS In my own past, I remember the secret block project of painting my plain wood blocks as soldiers in parade uniforms. Each block had four painted soldiers, which could be arranged in different parade formations. Children often create their own play blocks by redesigning existing block shapes or by shaping raw materials into blocks. We sand wood pieces, paint them, and place them into hand-decorated boxes. Other student inventions include a handsome building set of painted twigs, custom cut with pruning shears. Another student painted tennis and ping-pong balls and outfitted them with Velcro for easy assembly. One student's play-block creations were modeled from oven-baked Sculpey.

REAL ESTATE FOR BLOCK PLAYING My children preferred sculpture gardens to art museums. At Storm King, in upstate New York, Ana admired the art by climbing on it or crawling inside. Inspired by the visit, once home she moved stuff outdoors, setting tip our monumental mouthwash bottle on a high, earthy mound. Aria built natural bases and excavated sites for a twisted toothpaste tube and lifted a row of shaving cream cans onto a slate pedestal.

The young curator was in trouble the next morning when the family searched for the missing items. I offered to help with the retrieval, guiltily remembering the days I used to borrow combs, hair curlers, and all the brushes I could stick together with which to build.

While the dark earth behind the school is our students' favorite spot for block plays, we meet as sculptors and architects over a variety of surfaces. We build on shelves, stairs, inside hatboxes and instrument cases, and under water in all aquarium. Students learn how each site influences their choice in materials and style of construction.

Pickles, carrots, forks, and soap-pad constructions in our art class celebrate the busy hands of children. No one is afraid of building with our play blocks--or to build with any object. No one says, "I can't think of anything to do," or "I have no ideas." Quick block sketches warm up the art spirit and open up possibilities for the rest of the art day.