Lesson by: Judy Decker
Unit: Sculpture- Art of Mexico
Project: Paper Mache Alebrijes (Whimsical animals)
Grade: Seventh (suitable grades 4 thru 7) 
Elementary Adaptation below (source of images unknown)  
Found Objects Sculpture by Mary Bolyard

Resources:

Video: Oaxacan Woodcarving: Innovation Meets Tradition (from Crizmac Art and Cultural Education Materials)
Book: Oaxacan Woodcarving: The Magic in the Trees by Shepard Barbash (from Crizmac)
Internet Resources: Art of Mexico http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/lessons/middle/mexico.htm

Alebrijes - Oaxacan Woodcarving - El Caracol Zapoteca fine Oaxacan Woodcarving Gallery. These are some of the finest examples I have seen. Beautiful details - nice close up views. Educational site (as well as commercial). This gallery does give art teachers permission to use images provided you send them email first. If you want only a few - Fair Use guidelines are permitted. 

LaFuente Imports has excellent images - all sorts of animals, birds, plants - more!
Crizmac has a nice selection of hand carved Oaxacan animals to purchase for your classroom.

Paper Maché Artist Links

Electronic Biologica Centrali-Americana - original 58 volumes of this remarkable work of natural history were created and composed during the 19th century in an effort to identify, categorize, and document the flora and fauna of Meso-America. Good source for pictures of animals, lizards, birds and more from the region.

Crystal Productions now has a Peggy Flores Video - Papier-Mâché Sculpture - on how to make these. It sounds like she has made them exactly like this lesson. 25 minute video.

Some background information

The Zapotec Indians of the Oaxaca Valley in the southern Mexican State of Oaxaca (pronounced Wah Ha Kah) are the artists of a unique and intriguing art form. The beautiful valley was the site of a very advanced civilization about 2000 years ago, evidenced by the ruins of Monte Alban and Mitla.

The woodworking techniques and artistic capacity of the Zapotec people have been refined over generations. Carved from the Copal Tree when the wood is green, this art comes from the three villages--Arrazola, San Martin Tilcajete and La Union Tejalapan in the State of Oaxaca. Full of movement and humor, the figures spring from the imaginations and superstitions of the carvers, for whom myth and magic are as much a part of daily life as conventional religion. The wooden sculptures are hand carved then hand sanded and hand painted in their characteristically bright colors. Traditionally, the men are the carvers--the carving is done during the "off" season for farming.  Many times, the entire family participates in the creation of the carvings. The women are often the painters of the decorative figures.

Instruction/Motivation:

1. Present video: Oaxacan Woodcarving: Innovation Meets Tradition (Crizmac video)

2. Students learn more about Mexican art and folk art via the Internet http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/lessons/middle/mexico.htm  See Getty ArtsEdNet Looking and Learning: Animals in Art: Imagination. Miguel Linares Lion Scorpion Alebrije (no longer online)

3. Show PowerPoint of Oaxacan animals - and discuss actual examples (Decker collection). A variety of teacher made prints are displayed from various sources.

4. Demonstrate making a wire armature - padding with newspapers to round out form.

5. Demonstrate paper mache technique

6. Demonstrate/review painting and various patterns.

Assignment:

Select any animal of your choosing – or design you own Alebrijes (imaginary animal).  You may make an imaginary animal, as many of the carvings of Oaxaca are mythical creatures.  Keeping with our "Story-teller" theme, write a short story about how your animal obtained a certain characteristic.  Have your story have a moral message (build personal character--tell about human virtues-- such as sharing, working together, helping others, doing your best, etc)

1.      Make a wire armature (this is like a skeleton) for your sculpture.  One wire down center of body, two wires bent for legs.  See examples (Note: I had a lot of different armatures started so students could see how to make them. Use one long wire down for the spine which also forms start of head and tail and attach wires for the legs. One style served as a basic armature for monkeys, cats, dogs, tigers etc. I had lizard samples too--and had samples that showed how to add wings etc. Twist wires around long enough for the legs and tape in place with masking tape.) Maximum size for my students was 9" x 18"x 10" (lizard above was larger - about 12" across - I made exceptions. Tails could also curl for longer lizards). I used sculpture wire from Dick Blick (comes in a roll - gauge size was not listed, but it was less than 1/8 inch thick - and very easy to bend).  Each student cut off a peace long enough to go from the head to tail. It depends on the animal.  Note: They needed 2 wire pieces for the legs (if animal had four legs) - longer than twice the length of leg.  Those pieces had to be long enough to loop around the "back bone" wire. Length depended on how long the legs were to be. The legs wires are taped onto the back bone wire. My students cut their own wire off. Once the wire was taped - they started rounding out body with wads of newspaper. I set a tray of supplies at each table that had rolls of masking tape, aluminum foil and pliers. Each table had a stack of newspapers. I did supervise most of the wire cutting at the start. Students brought their sketch with them to cut the wire.

2.      Pad wire with crumpled newspaper.  Tape in place.  Smooth over with aluminum foil. Use pieces of foil to thicken legs - add ears, tails, etc.  

3.      Paper maché with small pieces of brown paper toweling. Paper mache is another craft of Mexico--and of Oaxaca.

4.      Apply a second coat of paper mache--allow to dry. Elmer's glue may be mixed in with wheat paste to give  harder finish. Eyes and other features may be built up with paper pulp. Work on your story while paper mache is drying.  Make an illustration of your animal (use the colors and patterns of your illustration for you painting plan). 

5.      Paint a base coat of acrylic paint--using any of the base coats provided. Allow to dry

6.      Embellish with pattern--You may use puffy paints and paint markers.

7.      Finish your story and illustrate it with watercolor markers and/or colored pencils

NOTE: These can also be done with plaster gauze - and finished with tissue paper applied with Mod-Podge. Michele O'Brien does this lesson with high school students. They use plaster gauze then smooth on plaster. Once dry, they sand very smooth - and paint with acrylics. Finished work looks much like wood examples from Mexico.

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Students are introduced to the culture of Mexico. Examples of fanciful animals are shown via PowerPoint (or other methods - Resources listed above). Mexican paper mache animals as well as wood animals are shown. Demonstrate making armature and paper mache process. Discuss ideas for decoration. 
(Objectives same as above)

Materials:

12" x 18" Newsprint for sketching ideas, newspaper, masking tape, aluminum foil (optional), cardboard scraps,  paper bags (torn into manageable pieces and soaked in water) - or brown paper toweling end rolls, wheat paste (be sure it is kid safe) or Ross Paste, pie plates, table covers (roll paper works fine), wax paper (for drying purposes), acrylic paint (or tempera paint and clear acrylic), paint markers and squeeze paints optional.

Procedures:

1. Draw animalito design on newsprint - fill the page. Make your animalito a fantasy animal or simplify an animal from nature. Keep it some simple basic shapes. Be sure to add wings, ears and horns if desired.

2. Make armature from rolled up newspaper. Begin with main body shape. Smooth over with a layer of newspaper. Tape in place with masking tape. Put name on a piece of masking tape and put in a visible place.

3. Add rolled up newspaper for legs and a ball of newspaper for head. Tape on to body. (Armature took at least one class period - some had time to start paper mache)

4. Tape on cardboard scraps for wings, ears - may make horns and tails from rolled up aluminum foil. If desired - smooth a layer of aluminum foil over the armature and tape in place with masking tape (if desired)

5. Tear newspaper into pieces approximated 2" x 2" and manageable strips. Dip newspaper pieces into wheat paste (or Ross paste) - Smooth off excess. I used a couple of aluminum pie plates at each table when I did this. Put one layer of newspaper over entire armature. I had students put their name on one piece of paper and paper mache it on in a visible place so I would know whose was whose. We put ours on wax paper to dry. (first layer took one class period)

6. Put a second layer of paper mache over using brown paper bags (soaked in water to soften) - or use pieces of brown paper toweling end rolls. Be sure to keep pieces smooth - no wrinkles. (second layer took at least one class period)

7. When dry - paint with acrylic paints (or tempera). Put a base coat on areas - may change colors for head - wings - ears - legs. Allow base coat to dry. (one class period - some were able to start adding designs)

8. Paint on patterns - may accent with paint markers and squeeze paints. (one last class period - finish stories)

Note: I had students write a story and illustrate it while they were waiting for paper mache and paint to dry. I had hair dryers for them to dry paint - but only two so students had to take turns.

Submitted by: Mary Bolyard
Lesson: Found Object Sculpture
Grade level: Middle School

Students were given a choice of supplies for the armature - wire, cardboard, plastic bags, newspaper.
After the basic form was constructed the 8th graders covered the form with plaster craft. After applying
that as a skin, they used found objects to create an interesting surface. They brainstormed quite a few ideas
as possibilities for found objects. Optional: apply a base coat of acrylic paint before gluing objects.

List of possible Junk to add: Cards, game pieces, buttons, fabric patches (applied with Mod Podge), candy wrappers/gum wrappers, candy, nuts and washers, candy, fruit loops, pasta, paper clips, rubber bands, bottle caps, crackers, pennies (if a students wants to furnish), shells, seeds, beans. (Note: food items may need a protective seal to keep insects away). Check a recycling center near you for all sorts of metal gadgets (there is a good one in Columbus, Ohio)

Resources - Sculpture of Leo Sewell
Leo Sewell links (many were broken and were removed)
Article on Sewell: http://www.tfaoi.com/aa/1aa/1aa203.htm 
Interview: http://www.craftsreport.com/december02/onlineexclusive.html 
Article and images - Art from Recycled Materials: http://www.eco-artware.com/newsletter/newsletter_09_01.shtml 
Atlanta Airport art: http://www.atlanta-airport.com/sublevels/airport_info/kids/club_exhibits_03.html 
Sewell Football (no longer on line)

Paper Maché Artists Links

Karen Filippelli Abbo
http://users.adelphia.net/~antkar/index.html
Masks:
http://users.adelphia.net/~antkar/masks.htm
Look like this artist builds her own form to construct the masks. Try using
a hump of newspaper - adding wads of newspapers to build up features - and
aluminum foil too. Your finished masks will pop off of the aluminum foil
when done. Save the paper humps to use another year - or just pitch.
Jazz Hound is my favorite animal of hers:
http://users.adelphia.net/~antkar/figculpt.htm
See Jungle Painting for a very Chagall type feeling:
http://users.adelphia.net/~antkar/figurativeptgs.htm

I found her link on the following page:
http://www.painterskeys.com/links.asp
Looks like it is a good stop to find contemporary artists.
You too can subscribe to the Painter's Key twice weekly newsletter:
http://www.painterskeys.com/subscribe1.html

Ken Parker:
http://www.sculpturama.com/index.html
Check out the hands - VERY doable with kids! (think self portrait in a different way)
http://www.sculpturama.com/Pages/handsandtrophies.html
Panoramas - doable with high school and middle school:
http://www.sculpturama.com/Pages/panoramas.html
Portraits are fun:
http://www.sculpturama.com/Pages/portraits.html

Also check out paper pulp/cast paper sculptures:
C. Jagdish from India (site no longer online)
http://www.alankritha.com/Jagdish%20C.htm

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