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  4. Small-scale sculptures
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Small-scale sculptures

There are no Work Samples available for this Activity.

Description of activity

Students undertake a structural frame investigation of the language of signs and symbols to plan and make a small sculpture that is an abstract representation of an emotion. They use balsa wood, coloured paper clips, coloured transparent plastic discs (about the size of a 5c piece), florist’s wire and other found objects to make a sculpture approximately 10cm x 5cm x 6cm in size.

Context

Students have investigated the works of Australian sculptor Robert Klippel, in particular works titled No 363 Ninety-three constructions of coloured paper 1980 and Nos 1037 – 1126 Eighty-seven small polychromed tin sculptures 1995 (on permanent display at the Art Gallery of NSW). Students have explored Klippel’s artmaking practice including his intentions, use of materials and techniques. They have considered compositional aspects and devices and the symbolic use of colours, materials and construction methods to represent an emotion in an abstract form to an audience.

Areas for Assessment

Outcomes

A student:

4.1 uses a range of strategies to explore different artmaking conventions and procedures to make artworks
4.2 explores the function of and relationships between artist – artwork – world – audience
4.3 makes artworks that involve some understanding of the frames
4.4 recognises and uses aspects of the world as a source of ideas, concepts and subject matter in the visual arts
4.5 investigates ways to develop meaning in their artworks
4.6 selects different materials and techniques to make artworks

Criteria for assessing learning

(These criteria would normally be communicated to students with the activity.)

Students will be assessed on their:

  • understanding of the conventions of 3D sculpture and the use of a range of construction techniques; the manipulation of shape, colour, surface and scale and consideration of the sculpture ‘in the round’
  • understanding of how the structural frame can be used to create signs and symbols to represent an emotion through the selection of appropriate materials, objects and construction and joining techniques
  • investigation of some relationships between the agencies of the conceptual framework to communicate ideas to an audience.
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