This classroom project takes about 2 months to complete. In addition to the final project, photos of the student wearing the sculpture are great inclusions to the portfolios of students interested in pursuing post secondary art education. This project was graciously shared with me by my artist mentor, Elizabeth Duffy 

Uncovering:
A Classroom Project

Your challenge is to create a helmet/mask that describes your personality aspect that we would not know as a class. Think of a characteristic/trait that is typically covered or hidden. The mask you create should reveal something new about you.

You may only use materials intended for your recycling bin or found objects, no purchasing of materials. Look for a new use for materials you might overlook, look for the hidden potential in an object. 

Requirements

  • the mask must obscure most of your face if not all of it

  • some part of your face must show through the mask. You must be able to wear it—see and breathe

  • your mask should be made of 75% found materials

  • some element of the mask must extend at least 12” from your head

  • think sculpture and volume

Remember to be prepared. You will need to wear it without using your hands. We will take photos of you in your mask, which will be part of the grade and used in your portfolio.

You will be graded on your effort and your creativity, thoughtfulness, technique, and skill, in addition to your ability to convey your message both in the sculpture and in writing about it.

Outcomes

This project has three components when complete;

1. The Mask

2. A photo for your portfolio

3. A written description of your mask

Through doing this project, you will:

  • experience working with and defining just what is sculpture through making and looking at contemporary and historical precedents

  • become familiar with the creative process by learning how to generate and develop ideas for individual works

  • learn to be resourceful through making with materials you find

  • learn to write about your thoughts in a brief artist statement

  • learn to look at objects with a creative eye

  • become familiar with sculpture as object and as performance

  • learn to document your work in a professional manner

We will shoot photos during the critique.

The Process

1. Gather Materials

Begin by sourcing materials that you might normally throw away. As you take an inventory, think about how the materials can communicate just by themselves. The primary materials you will use are discarded items from your home, things like mile cartons, packaging, containers, broken household items, old clothes, etc. use the stuff you usually throw away. Remember, you will be wearing this sculpture on your head during the critique.

2. Make Sketches and Play

Start making sketches. Please draw at least five different sketches created from a list of ideas. Try creating a list of words using nouns and then verbs, such as bugs, flowers, dirt and fly, dig, hide. With the materials, try out different building techniques and 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 to manifest your concept without illustrating it; don’t be too literal. Try to stay away from easily 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. Use building techniques. 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 content to communicate. The materials you use and the way you put them together should be enough to express your concept. Remember, they should show us something new about who you are.

5. Wearable

Finally, make it comfortable and make sure it fits. You will wear masks during the critique.

Further Research

Please research masks from other cultures and periods: Asian, African, American, Latin American, European, Pacific Islander, Australian Aboriginal, 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 some contemporary artists using recyclables or masks in their work:

https://www.guerrillagirls.com/


https://nickcaveart.com/Main/Intro.html


http://suzanneheintz.com/


Write a 250-word statement about your work:

Describe the ideas behind your work and process, acknowledge the influences on your piece.