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Sticks and Stones

Learn to make a sculpture using found natural materials and copper wire.

Teaching artist:  Margie McDonald
Grade: Adaptable

 

Lesson:  Students will use copper wire to wrap round stones and create a sculpture using a combination of wrapped stones with sticks and other natural materials provided

Student:

Target learning: Securely wraps a stick and then a stone using copper wire. Criteria: Manipulates both objects and wire while figuring out how to best wrap the odd shaped objects.

Target learning: Uses craftsmanship in creating a sculptural form using materials provided.

Criteria:  Combines and wraps sticks and stones securely to make a stable three-dimensional form that does not fall apart or tip over if free-standing.

Vocabulary (click here for the glossary)

2-dimensional
3-dimensional
abstract
assemblage
craftsmanship
form
free standing
Marquette
representational
scale
sculpture
secure
suspended
twist
wall hung
wrap

Resources

The great outdoors to collect materials www.margiemcdonald.com

Materials

sticks, twigs, other interesting natural objects, stones, fine copper wire, pliers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 





Resources introduced and creative process

Teaching artist:

Introduces own art and defines assemblage as a kind of sculpture. Demonstrates how to first wrap around a stick by making a full wrap and twisting wire by holding the wire close to the object when twisting, leaving the tails to tie another stick to the first one. Next, wraps a round object with wire using a large object first, then the same size small stone the class will use: Demonstrates Sticks and Stoneshow to tie onto a roundish object by placing a little rock in the middle of a two foot piece of wire (ends are turned to circles for safety): Wrap and twist wire, turn the rock so you can wrap and twist in the opposite direction. It’s like tying a parcel only the copper wire can be pressed into a shape. Take as many wraps as needed. Tails are left for tying this rock to others or to sticks. As pieces are secured with wire, students explore how the pieces can tie together to make a sculpture.

Discusses abstract and nonrepresentational concepts and two and three dimensions. Mentions box and teepee forms. Asks: How is your sculpture going to stand or hang? Will there be moving parts?

As students are well into the process of building, Teaching Artist talks about embellishment, how to wrap wire to secure things such as leaves or twigs for decorative purposes. Do any of your connections need to be reinforced with extra wraps of wire for stability? Are your wire ends rolled in a curl and tucked away.

Assessment

Discusses the variety of outcomes that resulted using the same materials and inventive use of materials.

Discusses if sculpture is free standing, wall hung, or suspended.

If time allows, discusses scale and the idea that this is a Marquette for a 20 foot sculpture.

Check for:

Craftsmanship: Quality of work?

How securely attached are the parts of your sculpture?

How stable is your piece?

Essential learnings

Arts 1.1 concepts: 3-D form

Arts 1.2 skills and techniques: assemblage/manipulating wire