Materials Encounter Analysis Report - Course Name, Semester 1

This report, titled "Encounter with Materials," analyzes the significance of materials in art and design, particularly within the context of early childhood education. The report highlights how everyday materials, such as paper, can be used creatively to foster children's cognitive and physical development. It emphasizes the importance of original creative thinking and the role of materials in enhancing cognitive abilities. The report references key works by Bunn (2011), Burton (2001), and Pacini-Ketchabaw, Kind & Kocher (2017), discussing how materials should be used to complement their intended purpose while allowing for artistic expression. It stresses the importance of vision and senses in guiding the artistic process, leading to creations that engage both the mind and the senses. The report ultimately argues that the engagement with materials in art is crucial for a child's overall growth and development.

Running head: ENCOUNTER WITH MATERIALS
ENCOUNTER WITH MATERIALS
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

1ENCOUNTER WITH MATERIALS
Part 1.
One of the key themes that the readings significantly highlight is how different
everyday materials which are seemingly meant to serve a singular purpose, can be used
creatively in a variety of ways and manners to elaborate and expand upon children’s
engagement. Pacini-Ketchbaw, Kind and Kocher (2017) in their chapter on papers, show how
a simple newspaper, once it has served its primary purpose, can be used to engage the
children in activities that are interactive and fun, but at the same time, also pushes the mental
abilities of the children in directions that they never knew existed. Encountering different
materials creatively lead to higher mental development that becomes an essential element for
the overall growth and development of the children (Burton, 2001). However, the key
takeaway from these readings is the prime focus that has been given on materials. Different
materials can be looked at as resources that can be used for physical and cognitive growth.
The relevance of art in the lives of children are specifically highlighted by the readings.
However, it is also specified that mechanical engagement with art is not worth anything
significant unless art is made to mean something for those who are involved with it.
Creativity in the context of children’s growth is also something that needs to be original.
Burton (2001) points out in the text how copied materials and art that is not a product of
one’s own creative thinking can significantly restrict the opportunities for cognitive growth.
Another aspect that is significantly made clear in the readings is regarding the
constancy of the role that a particular matter is meant to play (Bunn, 2011). The naturally
assigned role that a matter plays is what it can do the best and the artist must make sure that
in his process of using the material to create his art, it must not lose its relevance to the role it
has been assigned to play (Bunn, 2011). Instead the artist needs to use his senses and his
vision to give the material a particular purpose that aligns with the role it is meant to play.
Vision and senses, in this context play vital roles by acting as a guiding mechanism for the
artist to be able to work on his creation and come up with something that is not only
mesmerising in it appearance but also draws forth reserves of cognitive engagement (Bunn,
2011). In childhood, engagement with art and materials is connected with the same aspect of
physical and cognitive development and engagement that allows the children, as makers, to
engage with different materials and build something that complements their growth.

2ENCOUNTER WITH MATERIALS
References.
Bunn, S. (2011). Materials in the making. In T. Ingold (Ed) Redrawing Anthropology:
materials, movements, lines (pp. 21-32). Farnham, Surrey, UK: Ashgate.
Burton, J. M. (2001). Lowenfeld: An (other) look. Art Education, 54(6), 33-42.
Pacini-Ketchabaw, V., Kind, S & Kocher, L. (2017). Chapter 2. Paper: Movement. In Pacini-
Ketchabaw, V., Kind, S & Kocher, L. (Eds.) Encounters With Materials in Early
Childhood Education. New York: Routledge.