Wire Silhouette Figure Sculptures

Grade: Fifth
Project Length of Time: 2 Art Sessions
NYS Standards:
1. Students will make works of art that explore different kinds of subject matter,
topics, themes, and metaphors. Students will understand and use sensory
elements, organizational principles, and expressive images to communicate their
own ideas in works of art. Students will use a variety of art materials, processes,
mediums, and techniques, and use appropriate technologies for creating and
exhibiting visual art works.
Students:
a. experiment and create art works, in a variety of mediums
(drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics, printmaking, video, and computer graphics),
based on a range of individual and collective experiences.
b. develop their own ideas and images through the exploration and creation
of art works based on themes, symbols and events.
c. understand and use the elements and principles of art (line, color, texture, shape) in
order to communicate their ideas.
d. reveal through their own artwork understanding of how art mediums and
techniques influence their creative decisions.
2. Students will know and use a variety of visual arts materials, techniques, and
processes. Students will know about resources and opportunities for participation
In visual arts in the community (exhibitions, libraries, museums, galleries) and use
Appropriate materials (art reproductions, slides, print materials, electronic media).
Students will be aware of vocational options available in the visual arts.
Students:
a. understand the characteristics of various mediums (2dimensional, 3dimensional,
electronic images) in order to select those that are appropriate for their purposes and
intent.
b. develop skills with electronic media as a means of expressing visual ideas.
3. Students will reflect on, interpret and evaluate works of art, using the language of
art criticism. Students will analyze the visual characteristics of the natural and built
environment and explain the social, cultural, psychological, and environment
dimensions of the visual arts. Students will compare the ways in which a variety of
ideas, themes, and concepts are expressed through the visual arts with the ways
they are expressed in other disciplines.
(NYS Art Standards cont.)

Students:

a. explain their reflections about the meanings, purposes, and sources of works of art;
describe their responses to the works and the reasons for those responses.
b. explain the visual and other sensory qualities (surfaces, colors, textures, shape, sizes,
volumes) found in a wide variety of artworks.
c. explain the themes that are found in works of visual art and how the artworks are
related to other forms of art. (dance, music, theatre, etc.)

Learning Objectives:
Students will be able to:
Draw a simple silhouette figure.
Understand the concept of Gesture.
Recognize Gesture in figurative works of art.
Distinguish between large and small Gesture.
Understand the concept of directionality and weight of the figure.
Bend and shape a wire around the outline of a drawing.
Add detail with paper.
Grasp the concept of a flat shape transforming into a freestanding sculpture.
Understand how different materials can be manipulated.
Create an animation.
Edit an animation.
Part I: Demonstration:
I will show the wire figurative work of Alexander
Calder.

I will gather students around the wood demonstration

table.

 I will demonstrate how to trace a cardboard figure form with a black sharpie on 5 x 9
paper.
I will demonstrate how to free draw ones own figure on the paper.
I will show how to tape down the paper with masking tape.
I will show how to bend wire all around the figure drawing.
I will show how to tape down the paper with masking tape.
I will show how to bend wire all around the figure drawing.
I will show how to twist wire around the start and end points to join them.
I will show how to tape down the wire to help keep it stable as it is shaped around the
figure drawing.
I will show how to prop up the wire figure by securing it with a staple gun to a wood base.
Materials:
White 5 X 9 paper
3 x 4 x 1 Wood Blocks
Staple Gun
Pencils
Black Sharpies
Cardboard Figurative Tracers
White paper scraps
Wire
Pliers
Masking Tape
Transparent Tape
Stop Motion Video App
IPhone
Activity:
Students will trace a cardboard figure form with a black sharpie on 5 x 9 paper or
Free draw ones own figure on the paper.
Students will tape down the paper with masking tape.
Students will bend wire all around the figure drawing.
Students will tape down the paper with masking tape.
Students will bend wire all around the figure drawing.
Students will twist wire around the start and end points to join them.
Students will tape down the wire to help keep it stable as it is shaped around the figure
drawing.
Students will prop up the wire figure by securing it with a staple gun to a wood base
Part II:
Demonstration:

 I will show how to create a stop motion video using IPhone.

I will show how to work with the Stop Motion Video App.
I will show the Stop Motion Video example a student created.
Activity:
In pairs, students will plan out a beginning, middle and end for a little animated video.
In pairs, students will create a Stop Motion Video using their two Wire Figure
Sculptures.
Assessment:
This is a reflection of both the hands-on art making & the technology piece. A set of
questions will be posed to each of the pairs after they have produced an animation of their
Wire Sculptures. They will jot down their answers and we will have an informal discussion
while viewing each groups Stop Action Videos, giving each group a chance to respond.
What was most difficult for you in creating your Wire Figure?
Did you intend your sculpture to have a clear Gesture?
How does using wire lend itself to movement?
Did the wire sculpture lose its shape during the animation?
Can you see what the figures are doing?
What kind of character did you create?
In what ways did the paper details help define the character?
Is there a somewhat defined beginning, middle and end to the video?
Is there a story line? Is there a highpoint in the action?
Does the video hold your interest? In what way?
As a pair, do you feel the video needs editing? What would you edit?
If theres an element you would want to introduce into the video, what would it be?