Creating Connections to Land through Art: Allowing Curiosity to Take the Lead in Urban Spaces

Abstract

When a child requested a visit to a colourful metal tree that she had seen on the way to the children’s centre, we had no idea it would spark a journey of connection to the land through the art found in a bustling, urban, downtown setting. This article describes our journey as educators as we used questions to guide and push forward our practice with children. The questions provoked both children and educators to notice connections to the environment and how we might learn more about ourselves and the histories and stories of our surroundings. The purpose of this article is to consider how a series of metal tree art installations called our attention to the land we are on and the pedagogical possibilities that arose when we listened to questions proposed by both educators and the children in our care.