Seeing Myself See. (360G-Wellcome-089429_Z_09_Z)

The project: The proposed project will create a 'sculpture-based' science and art educational programme (with accompanying sculpture) that will be disseminated to schools nationally and internationally. What the project will do: School children, supported by teachers, designers, engineers, artists and scientists, will build and install on their school grounds a three metre high, rotating glass sculpture (called the Windmill) that induces an illusory perception of rotation. This 'illusory sculpture' will be used as a centre piece around which a specifically designed educational programme will be created for all primary years to learn about thescience and art of seeing. The children and collaborators will disseminate thework to other schools and institutions via presentations, conferences (some organised by the children) and the web. The educational programme (and sculpture design) will be made available to schools nationally and internationally through 'My School', which is a joint venture between LottolabStudio and Blackawton Primary School. What the project will say: Illusions tell us that the brain constructs what itsees by searching for useful patterns in the world and associating those patterns with behaviour/meaning. Which means our perceptions of the world are often reflexive responses grounded in history and ecology. When an illusion is'physicalised' (as is proposed here) there is the potential to use it to support a different kind of teaching/learning: "this is how you see it now, but with a bit of courage it is possible to see it differently". This process of 'seeing yourself see' is relevant to all aspects of human thought, and can (and should) be explored in the classroom through sculpture based learning that fosters a better understanding of nature and human nature.