Sculpture
Background Information & Activities

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Sculpture is a powerful and versatile art form that can be used to honor someone or communicate ideas. This movie will explore different sculptures, such as statues and mobiles, and the materials and techniques that can be used to make them. The movie will also explore a few examples of sculptures by noted artists and the ideas expressed in their work.

What is a sculpture? How is sculpture different from a painting or photograph? Discuss with children. Remind them that the image in a painting, drawing, or photograph has two dimensions: length and width. A sculpture, however, has three dimensions: length, width, and depth. Ask children where they have seen sculpture. What did it look like? How were the various sculptures alike and different?

Broaden children's understanding and explain that sculptures can be larger than a house or small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. They can be displayed on their own, or be a part of buildings or fountains. Although many sculptures are modeled after something recognizable, abstract sculptures are not. You may want to share a few examples of abstract sculptures and compare them with statues or other clearly representational artwork.

A statue is a sculpture that is modeled after someone or something. Ask children where they have seen statues. Many memorials often feature statues to honor an important person. Churches, temples, and other houses of worship often feature statutes to honor important people or figures..

Review with children that a medium is a material used by an artist. Sculptures can be made from a wide variety of materials, including clay, stone, wood, metal, paper, or a combination of different mediums. Some artists use found objects or materials that come from nature. Some even use sound and light to create sculptures. Explain that practically anything can be used to create a sculpture!

Several techniques can be used to create sculptures. Manipulation is the process when material in place is shaped and pressed, as in molding clay to form a sculpture. Subtraction is the process of taking material away to create a shape or form, as in chiseling away marble to create a statue. Addition is the process of adding more of the medium to the sculpture. Substitution is the process of replacing parts with something else. Many artists combine different techniques to create their work. You may want to practice each of these techniques together using clay, paper, or other materials that are easy to form and change.

Explain to children that sculptures communicate feelings and ideas. Visit a museum or gallery together or research different sculptures on the Internet and discuss the ideas or feelings they share. The Thinker by Auguste Rodin (1840-1917) shows a man who is deep in thought and struggling with an internal conflict. The sculpture communicates a feeling many people have experienced. Alexander Calder (1898-1976) studied math and worked as an engineer before he became an artist. He created mobiles, or sculptures that hang in the air. He explored the ideas of force, motion, and balance through his work. Robert Smithson (1938-1973) explored land art. In one sculpture, he partially buried a woodshed to explore how time and nature can change things built by humans. Louise Bourgeois (born 1911) created very large sculptures of spiders to experiment with scale. The spider is symbolic of people's fears and Bourgeois' sculpture explores the ideas of vulnerability and fear. Remind children that a symbol is something that stands for something else. For example, a heart stands for love, and a dove stands for piece. Artists often use symbols in their work to convey ideas.

Art is about exploration and expression. Encourage children to create sculptures to communicate their ideas. Explore different examples together and have children create their own artwork. Guide children to think about color, shape, form, and texture (or how something feels) as they create their sculptures. Invite children to experiment with different materials to help them communicate their ideas.

See more lesson plans and resources: BrainPOP Educators.

Sculpture Teacher Activities

© 1999-2012 BrainPOP. All rights reserved.

Museum Tour

Visit an art museum with your whole class, either in person or virtually using tours available on many museums’ websites. Look at different sculptures and discuss them. Ask questions to foster discussion: What message or idea is the artist communicating through his or her sculpture? How does the work make you feel? What details in the work make you feel that way? Students may wish to sketch their favorite sculptures and take notes. Some museums offer guided tours and may create a special tour about sculptures just for your class.

Statue

Remind students that many memorials have statues to commemorate and honor an important person. Together, research famous memorials, such as the Thomas Jefferson Memorial and Abraham Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. What does the pose of the statue tell you about the person or about the artist's view of the person? Then invite students to create a statue of their own. They may want to model the statue after a historical figure or community leader. They may want to recreate a special or important moment that occurred in their neighborhood. Have students create their statues and share them with the whole class. You may wish students to write a report about their artistic intention as well as background information about the person or people they are honoring.

Sculpture Family Activities

© 1999-2012 BrainPOP. All rights reserved.

Recreate

Visit a museum or art gallery together and look at different sculptures. Ask your child to choose a sculpture that inspires him or her. Have your child sketch the sculpture from different angles and take detailed notes about the construction or execution. Then allow your child to try recreating the sculpture at home. Encourage him or her to use materials that are different from that of the original artist.

Light and Sound

Sculptures can go beyond stone, wood, and metal. Many artists incorporate light and sound into their pieces. Invite your child to create a light or sound sculpture. You may want to research different examples at the library, museum, or on the Internet. Encourage your child to create a sculpture that uses colored lights or music. He or she may want to create sound effects that accompany a sculpture or record different sounds around the home.