Project 10: Sound Suit. Due for Juries

Project Overview

This project is an introduction to the work of sculptor, Nick Cave, and his Soundsuit series. This is a big project. You will have two in-class work days to complete it. Time-management is very important!

For this project, make a wearable sculpture that covers your whole body. Look at the artist Nick Cave's Soundsuits for inspiration, but make the idea your own. Think about a way to incorporate sound into your project. 

For this project you may use all of the skills and materials you have learned about through the year: cardboard, sewing, carving, paper, natural materials, found objects, and assemblage. 

Think about how you will move your body to create sound. How can you transform yourself with the suit?

Note: You will be wearing your project during your jury, so make sure it is comfortable and that you can see. Also, be sure to consider transportation. Can it be made in sections?

Schedule

Homework for May 4th: Look at lots of pictures, videos, and articles about Nick Cave's Soundsuits. Get to know them really well. Make sketches for your wearable sculpture, and bring materials that you want to work with to class. You should bring A LOT of materials to class.

April 4: Studio Day- Grade based on bringing in your materials and detailed sketches. 

May 11: Studio Day- Grade based on having basic structure complete (wearable).

Project Due: Wearing it for your jury. Final project grade will be determined at Jury. 

Rubric

This project will count for two full grades. One for the actual finished project (which will be presented and graded during Juries). The overall quality of your work will be assessed on: creativity, aesthetics (form, composition, color, unity/cohesiveness, use of materials), construction technique (how things are attached, how it connects to your body), and the quality/quantity of the sound it creates.

The second grade will be based on your time-management, and effort (being prepared & working in class). 

Nick Cave Videos

Sample Student Work- Last Year's Projects

Sample Student Work- Class of 2015

Sample Student Work- Class of 2014

2012 projects

http://newworldsculpture9.blogspot.com/2012_04_01_archive.html

Special Bonus Feature

Project 9: Alter-Ego Mask: Show me your trash, and I will tell you who you are. DUE April 25th

Finished Projects 

Photos from critique...

Project Description

Chris Scarborough, drawing of a mask

“Show me your trash, and I will tell you who you are.” 

Your challenge is to create a mask that describes an aspect of your personality that we as a class would normally not know. Like trash, which we cover in land fills, think of a characteristic/trait that is normally covered or hidden. The mask you create should reveal something new about you. 

You may only use materials intended for your trash can, or recycling bin. In other words, save the things you would normally discard... these will become your materials. 

 Requirements

• The mask must obscure most, if not all of your face. 

• NO ZORO or ANONYMOUS MASKS!

• Make sure that you can see out of the mask, allow for sufficient breathing

• Your mask/sculpture should be 75% made of trash. 

• Some element of the mask should extend at least 12 inches from your head.

• Think sculpture think volume.

• Remember be prepared,  you will be wearing your mask during critique, so make sure it stays on your head/face. without your hands holing it.

Rubric

You will be graded on your effort as well as your creativity, thoughtfulness, technique, and skill in making the mask.

Due Date 

Project due April 25th at beginning of class. We will shoot photos during critique. There is no class on April 18, so you will do this project at home. 

Suggested Process

1. Gather Materials 

Begin by sourcing materials that you would normally throw away. Be sure to clean them. As you take an inventory of your garbage/recycling, think about how the materials can communicate just  by themselves. 

The primary materials you will use,  are discarded items from your home, things like: milk cartons, packaging, containers, broken household items, old clothes, etc. Use the stuff you normally throw away.  

Please clean and prepare your materials so they are not harmful to you, or cause a potential pest problem. Remember you will be wearing this sculpture on your head during critique.

Do not use any materials that will rot, ie. vegetables, or animal by-products. If you do choose to use food-stuff, make sure it is stable, and will not attract pests. An example of something that could be used if clean and stable would be well-washed egg shells.  

2. Make Sketches and play

Start making sketches, and trying out different building techniques. Experiment with different ways to create form and volume. 

3. Choose an idea to communicate

When you are thinking of ways to communicate your idea, try to find ways that will manifest your concept without illustrating it; don't be too literal. 

Try to stay away from easy recognizable pop culture memes, and do your best to make your “mask” not look like anything you've seen before. It will be helpful to think of this more as a wearable sculpture for your head. This is not a halloween mask. 

4. Construction

Approach the project in a way that makes sense to you, and use building-techniques you've learned from previous projects. Do your best to create volume with the materials you have selected.

All the same design concepts apply to these materials as they would with things you buy in an art store.

Use form, line, color, and context to communicate. The materials you use, and the way you put them together should be enough to communicate your concept. They should show us something new about who you are. 

5. Wearable

Finally, make it comfortable, and make sure it fits... you will wear the mask during critique.

Background information

A mask is an object normally worn on the face, typically for protection, disguise, performance or entertainment. Masks have been used since antiquity for both ceremonial and practical purposes. They are usually worn on the face, although they may also be positioned for effect elsewhere on the wearer's body, so in parts of Australia giant totem masks cover the body, whilst Inuit women use finger masks during storytelling and dancing.[1]   

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mask

Further Research

Please research masks from other cultures and time periods: Asian, African, American,  Latin American, European, Pacific Islander, Australian Aboriginal, etc, etc.

What did they look like? What materials and building techniques did they use? Why did they make them? How were they used?

 Here are a few links to some contemporary artists using trash,  or masks, in their work. Please feel free to share any other information or videos with all of us.  Use the comment section of the blog. 

Artists References 

Living Artists of Japan: The Face Behind the Mask - Noh Mask Maker

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdFFwxw9mN8

Cindy Sherman: Mannequins & Masks | Art21 "Exclusive"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHVsXPoVbiE

Masks | "Exclusive" | Art21

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BB5ykyAAhtk

Paul McCarthy: "Piccadilly Circus" | Art21 "Exclusive"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76YkbsSiZk4

Mary Mattingly Owns Up | "New York Close Up" | Art21

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gujH5oYmHcY

Brian Jungen 

Shin Murayama

Shin Murayama

Shin Murayama

Student Examples

Here are a few examples of some Masks from previous years. Note our project is somewhat different (they did not use trash) so only use the images to get your creative juices flowing.

Project 8: Paper Folding. Due April 11th

Project Description

Create a volumetric sculpture, using the folding techniques included in the pdf handout. You must include at least three of the four methods. However, you are not limited to just three techniques. You may use as many types of folds in your design as you would like. You may also invent your own!

Specifications

Your sculpture must be at least 12 in (inches) in every direction. 

Your sculpture should be no larger than 48 in (inches) in any direction. 

Materials

Paper (choose something that will hold it's shape)
X-acto knife and blades
Metal Ruler
Cutting mat (this can be cardboard)
Scissors
Triangle (for making precise angles)
Glue stick (optional)

Details

Remember, this is not origami. 

Class Schedule

April 4th- Project overview and demonstration of folding methods. 
April 11th- Project Due at beginning of class. Critique and photo shoot.

Tutorials

More Video Tutorials