Hello Mustang Artists! Awesome job on your artwork last week! We have so enjoyed seeing your awesome creations!
This week (April 28 – May 4) we are going to make art with things you have around your house.
Our objective is to combine two or more “found objects” in order to create
a work of art.
Wondering what “found objects”
are?
A “Found object” is an object that is used for art but was made for a completely different purpose.
What found objects do you see in this awesome sculpture by artist Brian Marshall?
Can you think of objects that you have that could be used for art?
Brian MarshallMavBrian Marshall is an artist from Delaware who also teaches middle school. He likes going to yard sales and finding cool stuff for his sculptures!
DeVon Smith, Detail: World's First Family Of RobotsThis one is in The American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore!
Leo Sewell, DachshundLeo Sewell grew up in Annapolis near the Navy landfill. As a kid he would bring all kinds of “junk” home and build with it. Now he is well known for his awesome sculptures made with found objects!
A 3D work of art made with “found objects” is called an assemblage. Check out these awesome assemblage artists!
When artists use found objects in a way that makes them more valuable than they were originally, they are “upcycling.” Both of these artists definitely upcycle!
Jane Perkins, Jubilee Queen, 2012Jane Perkins is a British artist who uses found objects to create her amazing portraits.To see more examples from this amazing artist in a short video, click here
Elizabeth RobertsElizabeth Roberts was cleaning up trash as a volunteer in Alaska when she was inspired to begin creating art from trash.
Ready to make art? The first step is to collect supplies. Ask your parents if you have recycling, boxes, or maybe a junk drawer you can look through.
Here are some examples. Look for items that are safe and have no sharp edges! You may also want tape and glue to put your design together.
Now it’s time to brainstorm! Practice putting the pieces together in different ways. Look at your collection. How can you assemble the parts to make something fun? Could you make a monster, a car, a boat, an animal?
Rabbit
Teacher-made example (made with microwave dinner container, shaky cheese lid, twisty ties, milk tops and soap pumps)
Cat-Pig, first draft
Teacher-made example (made with cardboard box, paper tubes and take out boxes)
Rabbit
Teacher-made example (made
with microwave dinner container,
shaky cheese lid, twisty ties, milk
tops and soap pumps)
Cat-Pig
Teacher-made example (took a little longer, painted head,
changed arms to lotion bottles, laundry
soap and key snout, bubble wrap
dress, eyes collaged from coffee bag)
Are you getting excited to make art?
Here are some examples that kids have made from recycled materials. These pieces were attached with plastic screws-type fasteners. You may even be able to simply stack your pieces.
Think about how you can connect the pieces. Tape is a good safe
option if you have some. Glue may also help. If an adult is helping
consider staples or hot glue.
Makedo Critter
Mini Makedo Robot
• It’s time to put the pieces together and make your sculpture! If you want to work together as a family go for it! Please each spend 30 minutes or more on it and have fun! ☺
• Here is the criteria. Your assemblage should:❖Include 2 or more “found objects” combined ❖Include a title ❖Show creativity and craftsmanship
• When you’re finished, please take a picture and post it to our padlet with your first name, last initial, and title. Click here for the link. We can hardly wait to see your creations!
• You may also email your photograph to your art teacher if you prefer: [email protected] or [email protected]
• Feel free to share your artwork on Meadowvale’s Facebook site if you’d like!
Enrichment:
Have time and want to do a little more?
• Consider painting your sculpture OR• Adding collaged materials OR• Writing a story about your character!
Want to see more examples of assemblage
sculpture? Click here to see a short film
showing the work of many assemblage artists.
Sources• Slide one: images from creative commons, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND and CC BY-SA-NC
• Slide two: Brian Marshall information and image: https://squareup.com/store/adoptabot/
• Slide three:❖DeVon Smith, Detail: World's First Family Of Robots, n.d., Recycled metal, found objects, Gift of Alice Kumar, Photo by Dan
Meyers. Left to Right: Saturn, Sun, & Father Jupiter. http://www.avam.org/permanent-collection/index.shtml❖Dachshund sculpture composed of reclaimed materials chosen for their color, shape, texture, durability and patina; then
assembled using nails, bolts, and screws. Size: 14"(36cm) X 8"(20cm) X 26"(66cm). https://www.ndigallery.com/by-artist/leo-sewell/product/dachschund
❖ Biographical information on Leo Sewell: https://www.cavaliergalleries.com/artist/Leo_Sewell/biography/
• Slide four:❖Detail from “Jubilee Queen” 2012 http://www.bluebowerbird.co.uk/portraitf.htm❖ Information on artist Jane Perkins : https://allthatsinteresting.com/jane-perkins-remarkable-recycled-art❖ Image/ Elizabeth Roberts; https://theworldlink.com/calendar/art-music-theater/elizabeth-roberts-trash-fish-art-
opening/event_da77e4c0-1bda-11e8-9f3c-6fe12713c28a.html❖ Information on Elizabeth Roberts: https://www.alaskapublic.org/2019/05/10/ak-petersburg-students-turn-plastic-trash-into-
artsy-treasures
• Slide five:❖ Teacher’s photo of recycling
• Slide five:❖ Teacher’s photos of examples
• Slide seven:❖Mini Makedo robot #cardboardrobot #mymakedo https://www.make.do/❖ Creating critters from the litter #creativereuse #mymakedo https://www.make.do/
