Imperial War Museum
Southwark
National Playday is a free event for young Londoners celebrating children’s (and grown ups!) right to play. Offscreen invited children from 1-18 years old to collaborate on a “massive, wicked star shaped pattern flag thing with names in Arabic” (Adam, aged 7) with British-Iraqi artists Aziz Al-Naib and Aya Mousawi, Head of Art at Plashet School, Ashia Oozeer and Offscreen founder, Stephen Stapleton. One girl lost her helium balloon in the sky but said not to worry as “God takes care of all the balloons that go up to space and recycles most of them”. Special thanks to Beryl for keeping us safe and happy, Tyler (“less oil more courage” only …) and Lewis for their creative spirit, Ayo and his brother for the ART of patience, and Safia and all the City Hall team for giving us a chance to be outside with all the beautiful young people of London on such a great day. Well done to all participating children for making a truely stunning mural about peace, collaboration and creativity under the shadow of the big guns of the Imperial War museum. Until the next time soldiers …
August 2007
Contact teacher: Stephen Stapleton, founder, Offscreen Education