What is a Pacific life? Visit Stars start falling and discover how three Pasifika artists use art to show their challenges, memories and feelings. We use colours, textures, movements and other senses to make paintings that express a unique home.

How to make art that’s from the earth and good for the planet?  Visit There is no before to find out how Australian indigenous people use nature in art. In the learning centre we experiment with natural pigments on upcycled surfaces to give environmental messages.

We introduce students to the Gallery. Discover the many personalities of contemporary art and the creative processes behind them. Create your own quick artwork inspired by Len Lye and friends.

Experience the Len Lye Tangibles: 1963-1969 exhibition and invent moves inspired by the kinetic sculptures. Visit WharehokaSmith: Kūreitanga-II-IV mural in the Learning Centre adding sound and light to dance a nature story.
BYO your class ipad or phone to photograph students in action.
At school:
Rework your dance moves to tell a story
Create an artwork that shows your dance
How do things move? Rework your dance to tell a story about everyday movements using poi e.g. doing the laundry
Write a movement poem
Find out about the science of rainbows

Combine science and art to construct sculptures that move, tingle and shimmer inspired by Len Lye. How did Len Lye use science and innovation to make his art? We learn about Len Lye’s ‘number 8 wire’ approach to problem solving, including any artist’s first problem – how to get a good idea? Students use problem solving skills to create a sculpture that moves and stands within a group model for an outdoor public theme park.

See Len Lye: Tangibles 1963 -1969 and Len Lye: Wand Dance for exhibition information.

At school:
Find out about Len Lye at govettbrewster.com/len-lye/

How did old school animation work? What makes Len Lye’s films still cool today?

We go to the flicks to discover how image, movement and sound are combined to create an illusion. Students analyse animation techniques and use gallery zoetropes (animation viewing devices) to create their own moving image.

See Len Lye: Tangibles 1963 -1969 and Len Lye: Wand Dance.

BYO your class video camera, phone or ipad to record students’ animations.

At school:
Google Slide: Len Lye Style Flip Book

Click below to view Len Lye films online:
Tusalava
A Colour Box
The Birth of a Robot
Free Radicals

Films supplied by Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision. Please respect the integrity of Len Lye’s artwork by not copying his films.

Download the Len Lye: Animation Resource

A compilation DVD entitled Colour Box: 19 Films by Len Lye is available from the Govett-Brewster Shop