Art installation sparks imagination

A wonderland brimming with bright colours, texture and shapes has been created at Wodonga Council’s Belgrade Avenue Kindergarten.

Pieces of an art installation recently on display at Hyphen – Wodonga Library Gallery have been donated to all the Wodonga Council kindergarten services, including Belgrade Avenue where children have been enjoying interacting with all the different pieces.

Paracosm – a detailed imaginary world which is thought to originate in childhood – was the name and concept behind the interactive exhibition which was on display at Hyphen from December to March.

The art installation is a delight for the senses with bright colours, many textures from felt pieces to fuzzy pom poms and long bendy sticks that can be twisted and inserted into other pieces.

Belgrade Avenue Kindergarten Educator Julie Pitt said the children were thrilled with their new-look play space.

"It's interesting to see what the children come up with and how they use it, there's some riding it like a horse over there right now," she said.

"Down the track we will look at making some of our own pieces to add to it.

"It's about getting them into art and showing them that art doesn't have to be just on paper - it's art that they can touch, feel and explore."

The Belgrade Avenue students, aged three to five, love that they can touch and play with the pieces – some taller than them – but there are rules in place such as being gentle with the installation.

Students had fun guessing what some of the art installation pieces were made from, with one child discovering one piece was in fact a pool noodle covered in fabric.