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Chihuly-Inspired Nested Bowls and Marbles
Lesson Plan, Grades 9-12, Art, Language Arts, Sax, AMACO
Description
Dale Chihuly is one of the premier glass artists of our time. Inspired by traditional Venetian glassworks, the American artist has crafted an impressive body of sculpture during his long career and continues to create new works and installations all over the world. Looking at Chihuly's works, students can learn about the history of glass work in general as well as the life and work of one of the medium's finest artists. Students can find inspiration to create their own glass-like sculptures - colorful nested bowls and marbles - using Friendly Plastic®. With this medium, students can obtain a glass-like effect without a glass or ceramic kiln.
Objectives
- Students will make a grouping of three or more different-sized Friendly Plastic vessels and marbles that nest, stack or connect in some way. Students will seek connections between ancient and modern vessel forms. Students will learn the properties of glass and explore how those of Friendly Plastic® are similar or different.
Supplies Needed
Friendly Plastic® Imagination Modeling Material, 7", 1 lb. 1353484
Acrylic Globes 442190
Amaco® Polymer Clay and Craft Oven 408098
Sax® Tempera Varnish,1 quart 402269
Amaco® Wireform Metal Mesh, Gallery roll 407831
Light Gauge Art Wire 463820
Pebeo Vitrea 160 Markers, color set 246424
Student Modeling Tools 402381
Hot plate
Metal pot for water
Tongs
Towels
Large metal or wood spoons
Standards
CONTENT Standard #1: Understanding and applying media, techniques and processes
CONTENT Standard #2: Using knowledge of structures and functions
CONTENT Standard #6: Making connections between visual arts and other disciplines
Instructions
1
Research the history of glass vessels, comparing and contrasting those from different cultures and time periods.
2
Sketch ideas for groupings of three or more vessels and marbles that nest, stack or connect and that vary in size and color. Include in the sketches shape, color, texture and grouping concepts.
3
Using the Amaco® Craft Oven or a bucket of hot water, fuse pieces of Friendly Plastic® to create a sheet of appropriate size to form the vessels, incorporating patterns and blending colors as desired.
4
Cut the sheet into the appropriate shapes to form the vessels. Heat and fuse pieces together as desired.
5
Again using the Amaco® Craft Oven or hot water, heat the Friendly Plastic® for the first vessel and sculpt it, holding its form with your hands as the plastic cools to retain the desired shape. (The hot water method works best for free-form vessels; see the aformentioned Amaco Web site for various methods for pinch pot vessels.)
6
Repeat to create three or more vessels, or roll smaller pieces together to create marbles.
7
Stack, nest or connect the vessels to create the final sculpture, paying attention to all sides of the three-dimensional grouping.
8
Apply Sax® Tempera Varnish for added effect. Display sculptures.
Lesson plan extension:
Create an installation at your school inspired by the works of Dale Chihuly using the same team process required to construct one of his massive chandeliers. Have each student create one vessel, and connect all the vessels into a single sculpture.
