Project 3: Floating Sculpture

You will create a sculpture that floats on water. It must be no smaller than 12 inches and no bigger than 20 inches in any direction. You will choose the materials. Experiment at home to find materials that will float and not fall apart in water. You can use cardboard but you may want to paint, wax, wrap in plastic, ect. We will be testing your sculpture during the critique in a public fountain, so test your works at home in a tub, pool, sink. Your work will be evaluated as such.

1) Concept and planning. **NO boats**
2) Craftsmanship of the sculpture.
3) If it floats in water.

Due September 26: Next week bring to class at least three drawings of your idea, as well materials you will need. Be prepared to work on your sculpture in class. We will be talking to each of you in class and answering any questions.
Final Project Due Date: October 3

Things that might float: Plastic bags filled with air, plastic containers with lids, apples, wood, etc.
If you make something out of cardboard, paper, or paper mache and coat it with something waterproof like paint or packing tape it might float.

Good Luck and have fun !!!!

Look at these links for inspiration:
Robert Smithsons's "Floating Island to Travel Around Manhattan".
Pocket Property by Andrea Zittel.
Ottero by Marta Pan.
Floating Aluminum Tree, in New York.

Project 2: Cardboard Replication (due 09/19)

Cardboard Replication Project
For this project, you will replicate an object from real life, using cardboard to recreate its volume, form and textures. Choose something that you can hold in your hand, no bigger than four inches in any direction. Your sculpture will be larger, between 18 and 24 inches in every direction. Your project will be more successful if you choose an object that isn’t too simple.

What you are responsible for bringing to class:
On September 12, bring the following to class:

1. A small object that fits in your hand. It can be something from nature or something from culture. When you choose your object, ask yourself:
*Will this object be more interesting when I make it bigger?
*Is it too simple or too complex to re-create?
*Does it have interesting form and textures?
*Will changing the size of the object change how we perceive it?
2. Measurements and sketches of every side of your object, and notes on its texture.
3. An Xacto blade or a box cutter. Keep this safely put away when you are not in class. Everyone will need a blade to complete this project.
4. A ruler.
5. Cardboard. Collect interesting kinds of cardboard (thick, thin, printed, shiny, plain)

****DUE DATE**** September 19 bring your finished project to class.

Important concepts:
Texture refers to the properties held and sensations caused by the external surface of objects received through the sense of touch. You will experiment with tearing, scratching, peeling, crunching, and folding your cardboard. These techniques will allow you to mimic the texture of your object.

Shifting the scale of an object in an artwork forces the viewer to pay more attention to it and think of it outside of its everyday context. Artist Tom Sachs’ NASA space shuttle, made of foam core at human scale, makes a high-tech object seem more approachable and unsound. On the other hand, his mammoth bronze sculptures of Hello Kitty show us a cheaply made child’s toy on a scale usually reserved for Generals and Presidents, making it seem absurdly important. Think about how the scale shift you’re dealing with will change your viewers’ perception of the object you’ve chosen.

Look at these links for inspiration:
Puppy by Jeff Koons.
In Bed, a large lady by Ron Mueck.
Mushroom sculptures by Cosima von Bonin.
The Crawler space shuttle sculpture by Tom Sachs
Chris Gilmour's cardboard sculptures.
Cardboard scultprues by Lincoln Schatz.
Cardboard sculptures by Tobias Putrih.