YEAR 4 COLLABORATIVE KINETIC SCULPTURES

Students studied the 3D sculptures of American artist Alexander Calder.  He is known as the originator of the mobile.  His fine and delicately balanced sculptures move with the wind or are powered by a motor.  The students twisted and manipulated thin bamboo to create a 3D piece and then stretched tissue paper over chosen shapes to establish areas of colour.  Like Alexander Calder's kinetic sculptures, the students' sculptures move with the wind when fixed into the ground.  Some sculptures hang in the trees. This was a collaborative art project and the enthusiasm was electric.  No doubt there will be some kinetic sculptures at Sculpture by the Sea.

YEAR 2 PUSH AND PULL

Year 2 has been looking at the forces of push and pull.   We discussed pushing and pulling, where the hands, feet, arms, legs, head and body would be positioned for each action.  Students manipulated and drew small wooden manikins in the act of pushing and pulling as well as observing each other miming a push and a pull.  Then came the fun and challenging part, students created a model out of wire and aluminium foil.  The next stage was to create a scene with their sculpture.  Photographs were taken and here are some.  The final stage of this unit of work will be looking at the art of New York based graffiti and visual artist Keith Haring.  The work he is most famous for is his naive, stylised action figures.  The students are creating a Keith Haring inspired print of their figure.  I just love the individuality of these whimsical sculptures and the artistic license used, some have capes, dresses and belts.  Watch this space for the block print version!

For most this was their first time at printmaking, I think they have done a remarkable job.  Look for the muscle man - so cute.

The printing plates and below, the prints