Sculpture Three – Dimensional Media

Sculpture Media Sculpture- art work that confronts us with the third dimension, with the concept of depth. Media (plural form of medium) is the “stuff” we make art with. Some traditional sculpture media include –Wood –Glass –Clay –Plaster –Marble (Stone) –Bronze –Papier mache –Metal

Relief vs. freestanding A relief is “flat”sculpture. It is meant to be seen from only one side. Reliefs are usually found carved into walls or doorframes. Free-standing sculptures are true sculptures “in the round”. They are meant to be viewed from all sides and stand on their own. These sculptures can be on the ground, on a pedestal or hanging.

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

Menkaure and Khamerernebty, Egypt, c B.C.E. Greywacke, 4’6” The human figure in sculpture from the earliest times depicted rulers with the wealth to employ artists that were dedicated to depicting the ruler and their deeds. This work is HIGH relief. Carved almost completely Around, but not in the back- where the pieces were still connected to the stone / wall Religious beliefs often manifested themselves in Sculpture- bringing the intangible into the “real” world.

This is a relief sculpture. It is meant to be viewed frontally, the way we view a painting. Sarcophagus lid, from the Temple of Inscriptions, Palenque Chiapas, mexico, Maya, limestone, 684 CE

Elements of Art – as they pertain to sculpture Form- a shape with three dimensions –Forms have length, width and depth –Forms can be organic or geometric (natural or manmade) Value- deals with the lightness or darkness of an object –Value can refer to light or color

Elements Space- the area in, around, between, above and below objects Sculptures take up positive space, but can be made up of both positive and negative space (the empty areas). Barbara Hepworth

Reclining Figure (1951) outside the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, is characteristic of Henry Moore's sculptures, with an abstract female figure intercut with voids (interesting negative space). There are several bronze versions of this sculpture, but this one is made from painted plaster.Fitzwilliam MuseumCambridge

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

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.

Elements Color- reflected light. Wavelengths of light determine the color you see. Color=Hue Colors can be warm or cool, of high or low intensity and have dark or light value The saturation of color is the pureness of the color

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.

The Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, Central India Pala Dynasty, 12 th Century, gilt bronze, 10” high

The Burghers of Calais, Auguste Rodin, , cast bronze, 6’ 10” x 7’11” x 6’6”

Unique Forms of Continuity by the futurist sculptor Umberto Boccioni (1913), Cast bronze.

Casting To create an exact replica of something, you first need to create a mold. Molds are traditionally made from plaster, but can also be made from plastics like latex. Once you have made a mold, you pour a liquid into it and wait for the liquid to harden. After the liquid is hard, you open your mold and sand off any blemishes caused by the seams of the mold. Using liquid clay or slip is an easy method. Melting metal is slightly more difficult. This entire process is called “casting”.

Lost wax casting process Click the image on the left to watch a great video on the lost wax process- it will give you a great understanding of mold making and casting!

Click the bulldog mold to watch a mold making video

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.

The Clubs of Bamako, Installation at Deitch Projects, New York, Coulibaly Siaka Paul, Emile Guebehi and Koffi Kouakou, sculptors with photographs by Malick Sidibe, 1999 wood sculptures - carved

Detail, The Clubs of Bamako Click on this image to find out more about this work- (this link only works while you are in slideshow mode and connected to the internet)

Carved from Marble If you knew how much work went into it, you wouldn’t call it genius”. -Michelangelo

Elements Texture- an element dealing with how something feels or looks like it feels Textures can be rough or smooth. Think of the glass versus a Triscuit cracker. Actual texture is tactile (you can physically feel it) Visual texture is simulated texture. The painting technique “trompe l’oeil” refers to tricking the eye, or painting simulated textures and patterns to create realistic looking work.

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 , 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

Rain Garden II,Louise Nevelson painted wood..31-1/2"x 47" x 4-1/2" (1977) Royal Tide I, 1960

Leopard Society Emblem, Ejagham culture, Late 19 th c. Animal bones, cane, raffia, vegetable fibers, 47 x 41” Reconstructed Icicles, Dumfriesshire, 1995, Icicles reconstructed and refrozen

Elements Time and Motion Artists create or capture actual motion with Kinetic art. (moving art). Alexander Calder’s mobiles are among the most famous kinetic art. Implied Motion-art that leaves the viewer to infer that motion has happened or time has passed.

Calder Mobiles Click the image about to watch a vide on Alexander Calder and his mobiles

Large scale sculpture+ installation art This will segue into your next power point on Installation art.

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

Christo and Jeanne Claude, Drawings for The Gates- Letter from the mayor of NYC regarding The Gates

Writing Assignment Due Tues. Oct. 1st Visit this website: Next go here: Watch this video- develop an opinion about Christo and Jeanne Claude Write about their work-just one piece- choose anything you found with your web research. Follow the four step critique process. me your one page critique by Tuesday.

Christo and Jeanne Claude, sketches for wrapped coast

Wrapped Coast

Christo and Jeanne-Claude Wrapped Coast, One Million Square Feet, Little Bay, Sydney, Australia, Photo: Harry Shunk © 1969 Christo

Working with Time or Place Serpent Mound, near Locust Grove, Ohia, c C.E. Overall length 1300’

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

Sculpture techniques Additive- a process of creating sculpture by adding medium together. Gluing, welding or attaching pieces to form a whole is an additive process. Glue, paste, or tape used to hold things together are called binders. Subtractive (reductive)- this process requires you have a larger amount of medium and you carve pieces out of it to create the form. Marble sculpture carved out are subtractive.