Community Statues
Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone..." Genesis 2:18
God did not design us to be alone. He designed us to live with others in communities. All communities – urban, suburban, small town, rural—have unique qualities and characteristics. You can learn a lot about a community by investigating their public art. For example, you can look at the statues within the community.
What is a statue?
How can a statue help us learn about a community?
Check out these statues.
God did not design us to be alone. He designed us to live with others in communities. All communities – urban, suburban, small town, rural—have unique qualities and characteristics. You can learn a lot about a community by investigating their public art. For example, you can look at the statues within the community.
What is a statue?
How can a statue help us learn about a community?
Check out these statues.
- How can you associate these statues with their location?
- What statue comes to mind when you think about our community?
Objectives:
After completing this lesson you will be able to:
- Explain unique qualities that a statue can bring to a community
- Explain unique characteristics of the public statues in our community
- Apply your understanding by creating a paper mache sculpture that exhibits unique aspects of the place you live
- Describe and explain through writing how your sculpture represents our community
- Share your project in a whole class setting
Tools and Materials:
sketch paper, pen, pencils, notebook paper, paint, brushes, client requirement list
building materials: balloons, cardboard tubes, boxes, pieces of cardboard, newspaper, wire, masking tape, hot glue gun and glue, Paper Mache paste: 2/3 white elmer's glue, 1/3 water, bowls, spoon
Process:
- Stuart, Florida artists Geoffrey C. Smith is the artist who created the Stuart Sailfish. The statue is located in the sailfish capital of the world. Watch this video showing the process of creating a massive statue.
- Make a list of statues within the place you live that represents your community.
- Visit a local statue. Taking sketch paper and pen. Make sketches of the statue. Include notes on how the statue represents the place you live, and on height, width, texture, lines, etc. Write a statement on how the artwork influences the place you live.
- Many large statues are commissioned. The artist is often asked to capture characteristics of the place where the statue will be displayed and are given required specifications. I (the teacher) am your client and I want to commission a statue that represents our community. It must meet my (the teacher) requirements to be displayed. The requirements/rubric is on the following handout.
- Watch these videos about paper mache.
- Sketch ideas for your project. Sketches must be approved before proceeding.
- Use various materials to create a sculpture shape using the building materials you collected, masking tape, and hot glue.
- Tear newspaper into small strips. Cover each strip of newspaper with a light layer of paper mache paste. Apply the newspaper gently to the inner frame, covering evenly with a light layer. Let the sculpture dry.
- Add additional layers of newspaper, reinforcing anywhere that one piece is joined to another. Let it dry.
- Paint the sculpture and let the paint dry.
- Write a paragraph describing your sculpture and explaining how it represents the place you live.
- Share your project with the class. If it meets the requirements, it will be put on display.
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