Gallery Term 3 2009

Works created in 7weeks.

To begin the topic we looked at a photographic slide show of images relating to African tribal art, we listened to music of the Rain forest Pygmies by Colin Turnbull and Deep Forest and from library books, I took coloured photocopies and created a wall display, all for stimulus.

Students then sketched a series of small portraits in their own visual diaries and then selected one and developed it further with dry pastel on black paper. (Works need to fixed with fixative).

WE started the 3D work’s with Questions. What do you want to create? How will they stand? What material do you want to use?

Drawings and designs were created.

All students designed and made their 3D work with three pieces of wood, like a tripod, their decision.

Students began by making a supportive framed; it was established very early that they needed to securer it with masking tape and plaster bandage at the join. Students then painted their works.

Colours were talked about and we mostly decided to work with a restricted palette, for a more naturalistic look.

The heads are made with newspaper, covered with tissue paper –(paper mache style-watered down PVA). Heads painted and decorated.

I used a hot glue gun to secure the head and body together.

The decorations were mainly found objects, I always collect things and some of the students bring me found objects like gum nuts, sea glass, sea rocks, shells, sticks etc. beads, ribbons raffia, plasticine were also used.

The students decorated their works.

Finally when finish we viewed the 2D and 3D work, talked about our work, ideas techniques etc and viewed the slide show again. As we work we often listen to the Pygmy music and we all really learnt to enjoy it, we also spoke about the global pressures on tribes throughout the world. How they survived? What pressures they face. Did they survive? Etc.

The works are majestic and the students really enjoyed the whole experience.

Works created in 5weeks.

For stimulus I read a story featuring a tree house and we viewed a slide showed that I had put together of tree houses, tribal houses, cubby houses and sheds too. They became very excited as most children love the concept of having a house within a tree, their own house.

Students then designed a series of small tree houses in their own visual diaries and then selected one design to work with ~ an architectural concept. I even showed them some architects plans.

The small houses are built with cardboard collected from a framer, mount board. It’s very strong and comes in small pre-cut pieces. They are joined together with masking tape and at this stage the sticks were added.

Three even layers of plaster bandage cover the cardboard structure giving in strength; students need to take their time and it needs too fully dry out.

The plant growth on the surface of the houses was talked about, I showed them examples of old houses covered in ivy. They each practised the skill with a fine paintbrush in their visual art diaries. The quality of their painted organic growth is important as it gives the houses a magical quality.

The students really enjoyed this project, hands on, design, ownership and creating.

They wrote a brief review in their art diaries.