builds living, breathing sculpture environments that respond to the forces of nature — wind, water and light — and become inviting focal points for civic life. Janet Echelman

Echelman’s Story Artistic Success Through Adversity Echelman applied to seven different art schools & rejected by all seven. Travelled and studied art since Moved back to the USA in 1993 to teach at Harvard when her bamboo house in Bali burned down. In 1997 she received a Fullbright lectureship in India. Echelman’s paints never arrived. Inspired by the local culture and materials she began working with bronze casters. This was too heavy and expensive for the Fullbright budget.

By the end of her Fulbright year, Echelman had created a series of netted sculpture in collaboration with the fishermen. Hoisting them onto poles, she discovered that their delicate surfaces revealed every ripple of wind. By 1997 Echelman established a studio in New York city. With several temporary large scale sculptures under her belt, in 2005 Echelman was commissioned her first permanent piece in Portugal. Echelman now has multiple installations and is featured in many publications world wide. Echelman’s Story

The Context Echelman’s social implications are difficult to define, but the scale and connectivity to nature make her pieces a part of the landscape inspiring, relaxing, and evoking emotion, conversation, and visceral responses that may not normally occur. Today Echelman has constructed net sculpture environments in metropolitan cities around the world. She sees public art as a team sport and collaborates with a range of professionals including aeronautical and mechanical engineers, architects, lighting designers, landscape architects, and fabricators.

Echelman by Day & Night Vancouver, BC. March 2014

why Echelman?

Travels in Kerala Kochi fishing nets

The Lesson Objectives: Learn and talk about Echelman and her creations. The Practical: learn how to make a net. The Artistic: experiment with netting expressing onself by creating shape, texture, colour, and form. Relevance and interdisciplinary connections: connect to Vancouver, Social Emotional connections with art. Rainbow Loom. & Survival skills. Resources for project: Net making books and or internet for different ideas and how to guides. Materials: various types of string / rope to create netting. Potential supports for particular shapes (hoops, coat hanger wire etc…). Tape, tacks and other methods of holding up supporting string or material. Paper, pencils (colour), to draw ideas.

Lesson 1 Overview The Hook Demonstrate how to make a basic net, how to make the gaps smaller/bigger. Note to self: Practice First before demonstrating! Janet Echelman slide show Explain to students that today they will be making a net from the demonstration and instructions. If students feel confident they are welcome to try different techniques and be creative. Water Sky Garden, Richmond, BC. 2010

Echelman in her New York Studio Lessons Extensions Allow students to sketch their own nets. Extend by drawing on previous knowledge, books and internet for weaving modifications. Students can work in groups to create their own net sculptures. Display in school. Caveats – timing. How long will this take for grade 6/7s?