Louise Nevelson Project (cardboard, wood, paint)

This project began by looking at the work of Louise Nevelson, a sculpture artist who made high relief assemblages in wood and found objects. Students learned that Nevelson used all recycled materials to make her work, just like they would use recycled materials to make theirs.

Our primary materials for this project was recycled cardboard, wood and donated house paint. Students went "shopping" for their material and arranged them on a uniform base, After gluing their materials to the base, each sculpture was immersed into white paint. Students then arranged their individual pieces into one uniform relief sculpture.

Printmaking

After looking at Chinese woodblock prints and the work of Katsushika Hokusai, the students used the sides and top of a Styrofoam box as a plate for their prints. Using a wood stylus, students etched their drawing into the Styrofoam creating an indentation. A printmaker brayer was used to roll the paint across the surface. The inked plate was then overturned onto a piece od drawing paper with the student using their body weight to press the plate down evenly. Multiple prints were made with the same plate to reinforce the intention of the printmaking method.

Skyline Sculpture (cardboard, metal, wire, wood, paint)

The Skyline Project was a multi week exploration of the New York City skyline. The study started with a trip to the Brooklyn Heights Promenade to create observational drawings in both an individual and then a collaborative piece. The project continued with a painting and color study using the group drawing, and finished with an introduction to sculpture that focused on the skyline buildings.

It was with the sculpture exploration that we utilized our Materials Center heavily. Using recycled cardboard, wood, metal, twine, and paint, the students constructed their own miniature versions of New York City buildings, bridges and boats.