Transient Art
By Karen Burns
Transient art is non-permanent, constantly evolving and process
orientated creativity in action. When children work on transient
art projects they manipulate, explore and experiment as they
work individually or collaboratively, on either large-or small-scale
artworks.
Loose parts are the key component to transient art; attractively
displayed small parts invite children to sort, make patterns,
discover symmetry, explore shapes and discover different textures.
Transient art can also help your resources to last longer. If you
have a ‘no glue’ art area then all the resources become reusable.
Lauren Hunt, an early childhood teacher, suggests some of the
following to support transient art:
Small, coloured gemstones
Pieces of cut up drinking straws
Plain or coloured pasta
Coloured aquarium gravel
Gum nuts, seed pods
Smooth pebbles Leaves
Flower petals
A variety of dried beans
Beads
Pom poms
Pom poms
Feathers
Sticks
Craft sticks
Matchsticks
Buttons
Metal nuts or washers Wooden blocks
Tree cookies
Cotton reels
Pattern blocks
Pieces of yarn/wool
Alphabet or number beads
Tiny erasers