Play With Me

26 May 2011 > 06 June 2011 Cordially invited to the opening of the exhibition on Thursday, 26th of May, at 6pm in the Gallery Alkatraz

The exhibition will take place within the international Play With Me festival (www.igrajsezmano.eu), that has been organized five times successively at Prešern square in Ljubljana by the Janez Levec Educational Institution and Society for the Culture of Inclusion. The basic idea of the festival is encouragement of social integration or inclusion of children, youth and adults with special needs into the major population of all generations. Nowadays when direct relationships are being replaced with the new media transmission of contacts like communication via cell phones and internet connections, and the images/ideas of one’s own self and others are the result of made up virtual images and in the society of recognized and established prejudices, playing with a real other person that enforces her or his concrete wishes and expectations thus summons us to a positive acceptance seems to be an even more important medium for building up one’s own identity and the image about the other as being different.

The exhibited products are a result of co-operation and socializing of children and teenagers that the Play With Me festival supports. The products have been created by the children and teenagers from three institutions Vodmat Kindergarten (http://www.vrtecvodmat.si), SPSŠ Bežigrad (http://www.s-spssb.lj.edus.si) and OŠPP ZU Janez Levec (http://www2.arnes.si/~zujlevec11/vseb.htm) under the co-ordination of the Centre of the Republic of Slovenia for Vocational Education (www.cpi.si) within the ESS’ Placement of Educational Elements into Pedagogical Process project.

The meetings of children and teenagers were part of systematic engagement in the issue of individual’s formation of identity, moral development and encouragement of social development. Within the project the children and teenagers have got acquainted with the importance of a genuine gathering in group activities with individuals of different ages and mental abilities. They have participated in creation of hats, fashion accessories and group sculptures. The exhibition is a result of three meetings of participants in each of the participating educational institution, including the meeting where the participants shall finish the products – on Wednesday, 25^th May from 10am until 12:15pm at Prešeren square in Ljubljana, inviting other visitors of the Play With Me festival.

The entire process of product manufacturing can be seen at the exhibition also through a multi-media presentation of photographic material.

Photos: Vodmat Kindergarten