Today's Class- A nicer day today than last week, so we were able to go ahead with the natural materials/stone age art project. I showed examples of art from the cave era, the focus on 3D art. We did a quick exercise, looking at shells I collected from beaches in my area, and seeing if the shapes if inspired any ideas, as many sculptural pieces of that time seem to be influenced by the size and shape of the material- rocks worn in water, bones and tusks, etc. Then students started on the project, creating a three dimensional artwork using nothing but natural materials, the kinds of things that would have been available to artists 20,000 years ago.
How to make this up-
The project is to create a sculpture relating to that ancient period, so the subject will be figural, such as a person, animal, mythological/ hybrid, and the materials need to be from natural sources, things like sea shells, rocks and stones, solid wood, plant products (bark, twigs, leaves, flowers, berries, seeds, etc), earthen clays, natural fibers, but NO plywood or concrete, and certainly no plastics. Hot glue may be used to attach parts, and because the ancient artists often used color, you may use paint on your pieces. It should be at least 6" in length, and if your subject is small, you may give it an environment to meet that minimum size. Above is a life size human made from seashells and cement that was in an art show in Belmar last year, much bigger than what you need to do. Below are student examples from previous semesters.
bird (wood scraps and shells)
bull (wood scraps and shells)
mermaid (shells, stones, leaves)
owls (shells, twigs)
peacock (stone, sticks, flowers, evergreen needles)
spider (seeds, spiky seed pods)
Homework- Normally I give two weeks for this stone age natural materials project to be completed, but we have our spring break next week, so the due date will be March 22, 2016. Those who have not yet submitted the Make 50 module project and/or the foam core Relief panels (skeleton) project should turn them in as soon as possible to receive partial credit.
We are at about the halfway point in the semester, so if you aren't planning to withdraw, make sure you are caught up as soon as you can.
***Spring Break March 7 to March 12, 2016. No Classes that week***
For next class March 15, 2016- We will be doing a portfolio assignment related to complex shapes. The medium will be pulp cardboard coffee trays, the four cup holders that are commonly given away wherever coffee is sold to go. You will need at least two, but a third would be good. Besides those, bring scissors or a knife for cutting and some kind of glue.
