daily activities

NEXT DAY

Art Escape

Art in the Shadows

Have you ever tried to create shadow shapes on the wall at night? Shadows are a silent but powerful presence in our stories, films and our everyday lives—and they may have even inspired the first cave paintings. Today, we'll explore the science of light and shadow, meet artists who use shadows in their work, and check out wall-sized creations inspired by graffiti artists working in the shadows. Get ready to spend some time in the light because today we're painting with the dark!

DAY 5

what you’ll need

Your Camp Kinda toolkit
A large, interestingly shaped object
A strong light source (sun or lamp)

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FOR PARENTS

Ask About Today

What did you learn about shadows today? Why do you think the size of shadows changes over time outdoors?

Dinner Discussion

What items in our house could make the most interesting shadows?

Skip the Ads

Unfortunately, online videos often start with short advertisements. Remind your campers to click the "Skip" button as soon as they can to move ahead to the video.

explore

45-60 minutes

What's in a shadow? Artist Vincent Bal learned that shadows have a lot more to offer than meets the eye, and even created his own style of art using them! Watch these videos to learn about "Shadowology" and see some of his creative work.

Shadows and the Sun

Why do we have shadows and why do they change? Find out in this Crash Course video!

Remember: Online videos often start with advertisements. (Annoying, we agree!) Click the "Skip" button as soon as you can to move ahead to the video.

My Shadow

Read Robert Louis Stevenson's poem, "My Shadow." How do you feel about your shadow?

What's "Shadowology"?

Meet Vincent Bal and learn about "Shadowology."

Shadowology Short Film

Watch artist Vincent Bal as he creates new Shadowology artworks right before your eyes!

Positive and Negative Space

Have you ever heard of positive and negative space? Read this explanation and think: What do the shadows represent in the art you've seen today? Was it the positive or negative space?

Street Art Out of the Shadows

Some art, like Vincent Bal's, is made OF shadows. Other art, like street art and graffiti art, is often made IN the shadows, appearing overnight on empty walls, abandoned buildings, or train car sides. In New Orleans, aerosol artist Brandan "BMike" Odums creates giant, graffiti-inspired murals that celebrate Black history and culture. Get to know him and take a look at his warehouse Studio Be in this video.

A Short History of Graffiti

Graffiti goes back at least as far as ancient Rome, but the debate about it continues to this day: Is it art, or crime? Watch this video from TED-Ed and see what you think.

Explore the World of Street Art

Steep yourself in the history and culture of street art around the globe in this interactive feature from Google Arts and Culture.

create

30-60 minutes

Ready to make your own shadow art? You'll need paper (the larger the better), coloring utensils, an interestingly shaped object, and a strong light source.

Make Some Shadow Art

Start with a strong light source, like a desk lamp. Feel free to use the sun as your light source if it’s sunny.

Then find a large object with an interesting shape that can stand on its own. A bike, a plant, or a cup or vase are great options! Find something with gaps or holes in it so the light shines through.

Finally, place your object where there is a strong light source and shadow. Lay down your paper where you see the shadow and carefully trace the outlines of the shadow your object creates, or use the edges of the shadow to create a whole new image, like Vincent Bal does. (Click the button to see more examples if you want some inspiration!) Color it in if you like, or leave it as a simple outline.

Share your work! We'd love to see it. Ask a parent to email a photo to us or share it on Instagram or Twitter by tagging @CampKinda.

Or Try Some Street Art

Not feeling the shadows? Make some street art of your own with this online tool from the Tate Modern. Try different styles, colors, and forms. What would your name look like in graffiti? How about Camp Kinda's logo? Show us what you can do!

move

15-30 minutes

Shadow Spelling

Have you ever tried to make shapes with your shadow? For this activity, you can go outside if it’s sunny or find a strong light source, like a lamp, in your house.

Make sure you can see the shadow of your body clearly. Use your body to create a shadow that looks like each letter of the alphabet (and make sure to use your whole body, not just your hands!).

Can you spell your name with your shadow? How many words can you spell? Bonus points if you can get someone in your household to guess what word you spelled!

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