Sculpture and Installation Art The FOUR Sculpture building Techniques

Methods and Materials Four Basic Methods for making a sculpture Modeling – additive process Carving- subtractive process Casting- molds Assembling- additive process

Modeling In sculpture, manipulating a plastic material such as clay or wax to create a form. This is an additive process. Taking clay or other pliable materials and adding them together to create a shape or form.

Casting The process of making a sculpture or other object by pouring a liquid into a mold, letting the liquid harden and removing the hardened form from the mold. Materials such as bronze, plaster, clay and synthetic resins are poured into molds.

Louise Bourgeois, Maman, 1999, Bronze and steel 30’5”

Using a mold

The Burghers of Calais, Auguste Rodin, 1884-85, bronze, 6’ 10” x 7’11” x 6’6”

Carving A sculpture is carved, chipped, sanded, cut or gouged out of a solid material. Wood and stone are the principle materials for carving. This is a more aggressive approach to art making. Both wood and stone tend to resist the artists’ tools.

Marble carving Wood carving

Relief Sculpture Arch of Constantine

Sarcophagus lid, from the Temple of Inscriptions, Palenque Chiapas, mexico, Maya, limestone, 684 CE

In the Round Relief-Sculpture meant to be viewed from only one side. Usually part of a wall or other architectural feature. Low Relief (Bas relief)- coins High Relief -when a sculpture projects boldly from the background. (They project out at least half of their depth.

Assembling The technique of creating a sculpture by grouping or piecing together distinct elements. An assembled piece may be called an assemblage. Untitled #1111 (Little Ed’s Daughter Margaret), Petah Coyne 2003-2004, Wax, fiberglass cast statuary, velvet, satin, ribbon, thread, PVC pipe and fittings, steel understructure, branches, fabricated branches, silk flowers, wire, hat pins, tassels, feathers, pumps, irrigation tubing, water, hair, black paint 11’ tall

Untitled (to Karin and Walther), from the European Couples series, 1966-71 fluorescent light fixtures with blue tubes 8 x 8’, Dan Flavin Andy Goldsworthy, maple leave

Installation Art Christo and Jeanne Claude, Umbrellas, California

Christo and Jeanne Claude, Drawings for The Gates

Christo and Jeanne Claude, The Gates, 1979-2005, Installation in Central Park New York City, February 12 -27, 2005

Yayoi Kusama in front of her installation Fireflies on the Water, 2002, Mirror, plexiglas, 150 lights and water, 9’7” x 12’ x 12’

Fireflies on the Water, 2002, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York