Pedagogical Documentation
Making visible the learning and creativity of children and youth
BGC Hamilton Halton
A Real Living Heart
Documentation by Eddy Ivanchuk
EarlyON – BGC Ellis Avenue
BGC Ellis / Kiwanis 45 Ellis Ave, Hamilton L8H 4L8
Stamp week at Ellis was exciting, I scoped the site out to see what we could make stamps out of and was immediately inspired by the amount of things that we could use on site, Myself and the educators prepped tables with plastic sheets taped to table legs to cover their tables from the messy art we’re about to make. The EarlyON children gathered at the tables and I then handed out booklets according to each artist’s preference in colour (Red, Yellow, Green, Orange and Pink) then let them search the room for textures to turn into art. The biggest discovery was that even though a stamp could be made out of one texture, when you stamp it on the page it could resemble something completely different from its original item, for example a stamp of a mat pattern ended up looking like a real living heart which amazed me because it was a heart accurate to the ones in nature and it looked almost exactly like that, the EarlyON children had a lot of fun searching the room to make their own stamps and showing me and their parents what each stamp was made out of.
The parents on this site were very engaged with this activity and were able to help explain it further to the kids and helped them write what each texture was to ensure they kept that for the booklet. I loved this activity and having them make art they are able to keep forever is a great memory to have. I know I will be cherishing these memories for a long time and am blessed to be a part of people’s journey with art.
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Why We Document
Pedagogical Documentation breathes life into Artasia, turning fleeting moments into lasting stories of creativity, resilience, and connection. It’s more than a record—it’s a celebration of the sparks of imagination that light up each child’s eyes, the bravery of parents stepping into new experiences, and the beauty of communities coming together through art. By capturing these moments, we not only honour the voices, dreams, and discoveries of our participants but also weave a narrative that inspires others. Documentation allows us to reflect on the magic we’ve created together, fuels our passion for what’s possible, and ensures that every joyful collaboration, every burst of color, and every heartfelt expression is remembered and cherished. It keeps the spirit of Artasia alive, inspiring us to dream bigger, reach further, and continue making art together.