Today's Class- Today the focus was on planes, broad areas that make up the exterior of a sculpture. I showed a few dozen slides of art (a lot of the industrial steel sculpture of Richard Serra) and discussed how materials can be manipulated for different effects. Then the class started on today's portfolio exercise, building a small model of an automobile of their choosing, then using an identical set of car parts to design and build an abstract sculpture. We also looked at some late arriving 100 Module pieces and talked about next week's revised schedule.
How to make this up- Students were asked to pick a favorite car from a purely design point of view. Using photos of the car, the assignment was to create a small model of the car, using the same rough proportions, paying attention to the broad exterior surfaces and major curves of the body, using a mix of foam core and bristol board to make the pieces. Meanwhile an identical set of car pieces was created and set aside. After completing the car, each student was asked to assemble the second set into some kind of abstract sculpture, looking like anything but a car. Above and below are two examples from today's class. The full detailed instructions and more examples from previous semesters can be found here.
This is a portfolio exercise and must be finished by the last day of class in order to receive full credit.
Homework- The foam core relief sculpture project begun in class last week will now be due at the beginning of class on March 10, 2015.
For next class 3/3/15- The original plan for next week was to start a project involving using materials from nature, but right now most of nature is under 3 feet of snow and ice, and that seems unlikely to disappear any time soon. So we are switching the order of things a little and going with a project involving only manufactured discarded materials.
Shown here are several examples of the work of Jersey Shore artist Lisa Bagwell. Her art is made from discarded materials she finds or is given from friends who know her interests. Above and below are images of a "giant hoagie", which has bread made from corks, and filling that includes plastic lids, gloves, sponges, fabric scraps, and disposable plastic razors. The olive on top is some plastic bottle caps.
The three pieces above include a bird made largely from information tabs commonly found in starter plants, a shell made from plastic mouthpieces from small cigars, and an ice cream cone made from popsicle sticks, bottle caps, and a plastic spout. The large bird below in the cork tree is made from some of the same materials.
The bird below is largely pencils and plastic utensils.
For this project you will need to create a piece of your own using only discarded manufactured items. It should be a recognizable object or living thing, and at least 12 inches in one dimension. Color and texture will come from the found objects that you use. You may assemble it by any means you wish, but hot glue will probably be the easiest. You can show up with a plan and materials to make it, or just bring a bunch of junk and get inspired in the classroom. Bring a hot glue gun (or at least hot glue sticks to use in one from the cabinet), sketchbook and pencil, and any disposable plastic or metal junk you can find.
