Faces iMake HD was developed in cooperation with artist and educator Hanoch Piven, who’s art has been featured for the past 20 years in major American publications such as Time, The New York Times, and The New Yorker. For the last decade, he has been conducting educational workshops in schools throughout the US and internationally, demonstrating his unusual approach to illustration and portraiture.
In his workshops, children create collages by arranging every-day ‘found objects,’ prompting them to discover connections between objects and meaning. The excitement of discovery provokes animated dialogue about the process.
Piven says about Faces iMake HD, “I wanted this app to be a virtual workshop that reflects the magic that participants experience in my ‘real’ workshops.
The process of assembling a collage is one of play and revelation and of expanding our awareness of the elements around us.”
Since the publication of his 2004 award-winning children’s book, What Presidents Are Made of, elementary schools across the United States have been using Piven’s content loaded collage technique as an engaging method for exploring biographies of presidents and other significant historical figures.
The two books My Dog is as Smelly as Dirty Socks and My Best Friend is as Sharp as a Pencil have inspired and facilitated elementary school teachers to develop projects in which children create revealing and meaningful self portraits employing Piven’s captivating approach to introspection and visual expression.
Some of the school projects can be seen here.
How can Faces iMake HD be used in the classroom?
Here are some simple suggestions, which can help teachers develop projects for the incorporation of Faces iMake in the classroom.
Faces iMake for the iPad can be used to research and create artwork by students and stimulate discussion about the artwork.
Proposed Project for ages between 5 and 8:
Create any picture on any free theme.
Describe the picture verbally to the class, naming each object and explaining the reason for selecting it.
Proposed Project for ages 10 and up:
Create a self-portrait.
Step 1: Use the available objects in Faces iMake HD.
Step 2: Browse the Internet for images, which will have, meaning for the students, import them to Faces iMake HD. (Note: they must be PNGs with no background or saved as PNGs after erasing the background)
Step 3: Write a paragraph which describes the self-portrait: what was used and why.
Proposed Project for Middle-School Kids:
Research an historical figure and create a portrait of that figure using both the available objects in Faces iMake HD and additional images downloaded from the internet.
Please check the above links for more information and inspiration:
Hanoch Piven visit to a kindergarten:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKmkQHlbFxo&feature=player_embedded
Hanoch Piven visits Arts High News in Newark:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXusuLxZApI
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Reviewer’s comments for Faces iMake HD:
“Excellent way to explain assemblage and portraiture as an art form” – Theteachingpalette.com
Faces iMake HD is the perfect example on how apps can stimulate, entertain and develop your kid’s creativity” Funeducationalapps.com
“Collage art app that will inspire both kids and adults of all ages.” Maclife.com
“Overall, Faces iMake HD is simply an amazing app.” Funeducationalapps.com
“In a word: Bravo! Highly recommended!.” Smartappsforkids.com
“Faces iMake is one of the most beautiful and powerful app to exercise creativity we’ve crossed so far… is simple to use, with endless versatility – so inspiring!” – iPhone4kids.com
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