Natural Material Exploration (crit March 19)

Documentary on the man-made floating islands of Lake Titicaca, Peru, which we talked about during the critique.

For this project you will work exclusively with materials that occur naturally. You will have to collect AT LEAST 100 of the same type of item for this project and figure out how to join those items together to make an interesting object. Material suggestions: Palm fronds, driftwood, long grasses, tree pods, anything interesting that you can access a lot of. Try weaving, braiding, sewing, tying, bending or whatever technique you come up with to make an object out of the separate materials. At home and during the in-class work day you will try different techniques of arranging or joining your objects together to make one unified form. SIZE The sculpture must be 3 feet long in at least one dimension.

Schedule:
Due March 5 Learn about the sculptor Andy Goldsworthy before class. We will watch the movie Rivers and Tides, about his sculptures, in class.
March 12 In class work day, come prepared with all of your materials, sketches, and experiments you've already done.
March 19 Critique

Inspiration for the project: Andy Goldsworthy

Floating Sculpture due 2/26

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 Feb. 19: 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: Feb. 26 The critique will be held at a fountain at Government Center.

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.

Last year's projects:
Last year's projects: