7th
Grade Art
Unit: African Art - Symbolism - Adinkra - Ceramics
Lesson
plan: Personal Clay Box
Adapted
from lesson by Marvin Bartel
Lesson Objectives
- Students
learn to search for and sort ideas for content in their artwork.
- Students
learn to use personal symbols in creating a work of art
- Students
learn appreciation for art from other cultures: African Art
- Students
learn to assemble and finish a lidded box-like form from slabs of
clay half way between soft and leatherhard.
- Build
a frame of reference for the work of art by accomplished artists who
have made similar work.
Materials
for African inspired:
Clay,
clay tools, canvas cloth, rolling ins, guide sticks, cardboard box mold, soft-cut print plate 2”x2”
squares
for stamps, lino cutting tools, slip dishes, acrylic stain for finish, glazes for interior,
brushes.
Creating Idea Lists
Start with a list of questions and
they have to write the answers about themselves. They get into favorite music, instruments, sports,
equipment, recreation, hobbies, leisure time activity, family history,
family vocations, magazines they like, and so on. If the box is to be a
gift, they make the list about the user.
After the list of words is fairly
long, they make small sketches or symbols next to each word. Think of
sketches as visual lists. Artists make visual lists to develop and
elaborate good ideas and to eliminate weak ideas. These symbols will be
used to make the Soft-cut stamps. A different symbol can be carved in
each side of the stamp. One side if the stamp may be an Adinkra symbol
It is also helpful to have students
make a list of items that could be stored in a clay box. This can be
done by having them get in groups of three or four and brainstorming
lists. After the groups have written their lists ask them to share the
ideas with the class.
Construction
Students will make stamps with the 2" square
Soft-kut plates -
creating symbols to represent themselves. The stamps are used to
pre-texture the sides of the box. Make cardboard box to help support
slabs. Our boxes were about 6" x 9". American cheese boxes
from the cafeteria were also used for a long and narrow box. We cut the
cheese boxes on the table saw to 2" deep.
The bottom slab is first cut in the
shape to fit inside cardboard box. Roll out slab of clay large enough
for side of box. Stamp with personal stamps (close together). Cut slabs
to fit inside box. Wrap slabs up over night. Students assemble
slabs inside cardboard box using scoring and slip. They fill in corners
with a thin coil to make the interiors
easy to clean and sturdy. Wads of paper are inserted to keep tops from
sagging. Slabs are fused to the
bottom of lid to fit just inside the box to keep lid from sliding.
Measure inside dimension of box to
insure correct size and placement of slabs.
Decorate lid. Add sculptural
elements. Optional: Foil tooled insert.
Decoration
Something supportive of the main idea
must be incorporated in the decoration. Requiring decoration is a good
way to encourage more creative problem solving experience. There are
many ways to decorate, including:
- Pre-textured
slabs
- Adding
clay to the surface - head,
tail and legs can be added to turn into an animal (African inspired).
some students added small animals to the lid.
- Using
a stamp designed by the student with an idea based on the list
- Incised
lines
- Underglazes
and glazes
- Words
relating to the user, the contents, or meaning intended.
Connections to Art History and Other Art :
African Art Video: Through the Eyes of Africa
