Having travelled the world with Kaleidoscope Arts Foundation this summer, students marked their return to reality with an exhibition closing reception at the Elliot Gallery on Saturday September 19.

During the reception, four young people were recognised for their exceptional work and presented with scholarships worth $350 for a future class or camp: Jay Dunleavy, Shannon Wade, Marcus DeCouto and Erin Jones.

Participants in the Foundation's summer camp 'visited' Scotland, Hawaii and China during July and August, exploring the culture, cuisine and crafts of each nation in turn.

Volcanoes and tiki sculptures featured prominently in the Hawaiian visit, with the tiki sculptures the favourite among the young 'visitors'.

10-year-old Brianna Mendes, explained that tikis were put outside Hawaiian homes to keep bad spirits away.

Hers, she thought, would prove effective, "because he looks mean. You can see his fangs. I liked making his tongue (which stuck out)".

She has not set it outside, however, preferring to keep it under cover on a shelf in her bedroom.

Scholarship winner Jay Dunleavy liked the tiki "because it's made of stuff like Play-Doh, and I know how to make things out of Play-Doh."

In addition to fierce-looking tikis, children painted on fabric. Brianna explained that Hawaiians wore clothing with symbols and pictures on the material, though her palm tree will be framed rather than worn.

In Scotland, children were introduced to shortbread, Celtic knots and Nessie, and made three-dimensional drawings of their own monsters before rendering them in papier mache over a bone structure.

They also designed their own family crests, choosing elements -colours, shapes and symbols — that represent themselves and their families.

Gabriel Jones even came up with a family motto: "A little can be a lot."

Elegant, colourful lanterns highlighted the trip to China.

Architectural features were rendered on scrolls displayed as wall hangings, and the delicate botanical art on rice paper allowed children to experiment with a number of watercolour techniques.

Now back in school in Bermuda, the children are still able to indulge their love of art with a series of courses after school and on Saturdays.

l For more information contact the Kaleidoscope Arts Foundation at www.kaf.bm or 542-9000.