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Constructivist Project (due after 12 hours or four class periods)
CRICKET by Anna Sargent, Spring 2008 student.
Aluminum flashing and pop rivets.
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Constructivist Project (due after 12 hours or four class periods)
CRICKET by Anna Sargent, Spring 2008 student.
Aluminum flashing and pop rivets.
he Constructivist Movement of the early 20th century, also known as Constructivism, changed how 3D form was seen and put together. For the first time it really was "put together" from discrete parts. These works were characterized by light-weight, open structures which allowed the observer to see into them while defining a larger volume. Although the movement was a philosophical one lending itself to social improvement in pre-WWII era Russia, our interest is purely formal and technical. Subjects included portraits, busts, and figures, as well as the occasional purely abstract form. Style typical of this movement was geometric, both planar and curvilinear, which reflected its medium. Materials of choice were those readily available to industry such as sheet metal, cardboard, plywood, wire, expanded metals, and plastics. Connection methods included rivets, welds, tabs, and glues appropriate to the material. Often the pieces were painted or allowed to naturally patina. Constructing a work rather than sculpting it allowed artists to try out elements or shapes and adjust them before deciding on the whole.
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Brass Sheet |
Wrought Iron |
Stainless steel, 70 x 54 1/4 x 48 in. More Info. |
irst, construct either a free standing, mounted, or wall hung model using paper. The piece can have a front side to it, but should have interest on all sides. Subject matter can be either human, insect, animal, or plant. In other words it must reference living form. Height should be about 6 to 20 inches. If you are to work from a person or animal, the piece should be either actual size or enlarged. Insect pieces must be enlarged. Work in a rapid, collage-like manner freely changing your mind as you go. Neatness is not the goal. You may work from memory, life, or from a photograph.
inally construct a finished work using aluminum, and cold connections such as pop-rivets, tabs, screws, clips, hammered rivets, grommets, or brads. You may cold forge or cold-work the metal to raise or emboss the surface. Textures can be made using a variety of techniques. Repoussé is a method of decorating sheet metal in which designs are hammered into the back of the metal. Special punches are used to form the designs, which form in relief (raised designs) on the surface of the metal. It may be necessary to make your own simple tools. Some materials might need to be purchased.
luminum flashing is fairly hard and somewhat brittle. To increase its ductility, it needs to be annealed. The heat process of annealing softens the metal substantially. As the sheet is worked with hammers, it becomes work hardened, and can be annealed as often as necessary. A description of the process can be found here.
My job: encouraging you to change your minds and change the form as you work.
Look at the work of these artists:
−and the work of other constructivist sculptors.
RULES:
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