Jewish, Arab and Christian school children to co-create their own play structures in Jerusalem

May 25, 2010 - PRLog -- Jerusalem, Israel - May 17, 2010 – OPENmotion  brings together communities in conflict by creating new green children’s play environments. Movement, unity and sustainability are at the core of OPENmotion playground projects. Arab /Jewish/Christian K-12 kids and parents from The Bilingual School of Jerusalem along designers will come together to create common ground by building an OPENmotion environment from May 30 – June 2, 2010.

The structures will be woven of local olive, palm and eucalyptus tree branches using age-old techniques and tools and incorporate play elements such as balancing, climbing, hanging, tunneling, romping, swinging, forting, digging and other kinetic activities. The resulting 4 x 4 meter structures are individually unique and motivate children to engage in physical activity through play.

The intent of the project is to teach lessons of health and sustainability. The structures come to life when kids and parents connect, play and interact, developing a platform for cross-cultural communication around their children.

Portland, Oregon, USA based Michelle Ricker, RD and William Fritts of OPENmotion will guide the building of the play structures by more than 100 participants over four days while teaching on movement, health, design and sustainability.

The project is sponsored by the Israel Community of Designers. The process will be prominently featured as a forthcoming exhibit at the Jerusalem "Museum On The Seam" located on the historical boundary between Jews and Arabs in the heart of the city.

Web: www.projectopenmotion.com

Twitter projectOM continual Twitter updates throughout project

Facebook OPENmotion project status and daily photos

Contact: Michelle Mark, projectopenmotion@gmail.com

240 N. Broadway, Suite 202, Portland, OR  97227

Media inquires: +1.503.228.8825

Israel satellite phone: +1.503.702.2700



Participants/Sponsors:

Bilingual School Jerusalem http://www.handinhandk12.org

Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, Jerusalem http://www.bezalel.ac.il/en

Jerusalem Museum On The Seam  www.mots.org.il/

Israel Community of Designers designers_com@intermail.co.il

Michelle Ricker, RD www.newandyou.com                                  

William Fritts www.solidcore.tv

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The OPENmotion experience delivers a fresh take on bringing people together. We gather volunteers both young and old to build organic, structures for local use. Age-old techniques and tools are combined with natural, recycled and locally found materials to assemble these safe environments for movement. Our structures come to life when kids, parents and communities connect thru play and interactivity at the site. Each community writes their own story of balance between health and earth as they create and use OPENmotion environments.