Found Object Sculpture

Submitted by: Mary Bolyard
Grade level: Middle School

Procedure:

Students were given a choice of supplies for the armature - wire, cardboard, plastic bags, newspaper. After the basic form was constructed, the 8th graders covered the form with Plast'R Craft. After applying that as a skin, they used found objects to create an interesting surface. They brainstormed quite a few ideas as possibilities for found objects. Optional: Apply a base coat of Acrylic Paint before gluing objects.

List of possible Junk to add: Cards, game pieces, buttons, Fabric patches (applied with Mod Podge), candy wrappers/gum wrappers, candy, nuts and washers, candy, fruit loops, pasta, paper clips, rubber bands, bottle caps, crackers, pennies (if a students wants to furnish), shells, seeds, beans. (Note: food items may need a protective seal to keep insects away). You may place the found objects on the sculpture either before or after the plaster dries. Of course if you apply it after it dries, you will need to affix them with adhesive. Check a recycling center near you for all sorts of metal gadgets. There are recycling centers in almost every city.

Resources

Sculpture of Leo Sewell
Leo Sewell links (many were broken and were removed)
Article on Sewell: http://www.tfaoi.com/aa/1aa/1aa203.htm
Interview: http://www.craftsreport.com/december02/onlineexclusive.html (Archive)
Article and images - Art from Recycled Materials (Archive)
Atlanta Airport Art
Sewell Football (no longer on line)

Paper Maché Artists Links

Karen Filippelli Abbo
http://home.roadrunner.com/~antkar/

Masks:
http://users.adelphia.net/~antkar/masks.htm (Archive)
Look like this artist builds her own form to construct the masks. Try using a hump of newspaper - adding wads of newspapers to build up features - and aluminum foil too. Your finished masks will pop off of the aluminum foil when done. Save the paper humps to use another year - or just pitch. Jazz Hound is my favorite animal of hers:
http://users.adelphia.net/~antkar/figculpt.htm
See Jungle Painting for a very Chagall type feeling:
http://users.adelphia.net/~antkar/figurativeptgs.htm (Archive)

I found several contemporary artists on the following site:
http://www.painterskeys.com/
You too can subscribe to the Painter's Key twice weekly newsletter:
http://clicks.robertgenn.com/

Ken Parker:
http://www.sculpturama.com/index.html (Archive). See his new site.

See his other categories:
http://www.kenparkersart.com/

Also check out paper pulp/cast paper sculptures:
C. Jagdish from India (Archive)
http://www.alankritha.com/Jagdish%20C.htm