Environmental Art - Putting it into practice.
Environmental Sculpture - Preparation Activities
10 Visual Arts
Unit – I’m Wrapped!
Collaborative Task #1
Group members: Kelly Errera and Rene Nguyen
Step 1: The Brief
- You must choose a SITE within the school to create your sculpture.
Between A block and E block, in the hallway.
- You may only use materials found within the environment, for example; twigs, leaves, sand, trees, branches, etc.
We are using twigs/sticks and flowers and leaves.
- If possible, use ‘found’ tools, such as a sharp stone, thorns, the quill of a feather, etc.
We will not be needing any tools.
- You cannot make a permanent mark on the environment. Your sculpture should attempt to display a sympathetic contact with the natural world.
The artwork will leave no permanent mark on the environment.
- Themes your group should consider in order to reveal a link to the art-making practice:
- Movement, change (in material, season, weather)
- Light, sunlight, mist
- The energy and space around the material
- Growth and decay
We will be focusing specifically on movement, the energy and space around the material and growth and decay.
Between A block and E block, in the hallway.
- You may only use materials found within the environment, for example; twigs, leaves, sand, trees, branches, etc.
We are using twigs/sticks and flowers and leaves.
- If possible, use ‘found’ tools, such as a sharp stone, thorns, the quill of a feather, etc.
We will not be needing any tools.
- You cannot make a permanent mark on the environment. Your sculpture should attempt to display a sympathetic contact with the natural world.
The artwork will leave no permanent mark on the environment.
- Themes your group should consider in order to reveal a link to the art-making practice:
- Movement, change (in material, season, weather)
- Light, sunlight, mist
- The energy and space around the material
- Growth and decay
We will be focusing specifically on movement, the energy and space around the material and growth and decay.
Step 2: Research
In your group:
1. Select three Goldsworthy sculptures that appealed to your group the most.
2. Identify the concept/theme he is attempting to explore within these sculptures.
3. Explain why these sculptures work well within the site.
4. Discuss how your group might use one or more of these sculptures as inspiration for you own sculpture.
1. Select three Goldsworthy sculptures that appealed to your group the most.
2. Identify the concept/theme he is attempting to explore within these sculptures.
3. Explain why these sculptures work well within the site.
4. Discuss how your group might use one or more of these sculptures as inspiration for you own sculpture.
1. Icicle Spiral (Treesoul), by Andy Goldsworthy, after 1985 (ice/snow, tree)
2. The concept/theme that Andy Goldsworthy seems to be exploring in this sculpture is movement, energy, space, growth and decay. He implies that the tree is living and tries to express the living energy within a tree, and the connection between the tree and the earth. He also visually represents the cycle/process of growth and decay of the tree.
3. This artwork works well in its site because it the artwork is natural and in its natural environment, not removed from its environment and placed in another unnatural site.
4. We like the idea of the spiral shape in this artwork and the way that Goldsworthy expresses the energy of the living tree, so we may include some of those ideas in our work, however, it would be impossible to use ice.
2. The concept/theme that Andy Goldsworthy seems to be exploring in this sculpture is movement, energy, space, growth and decay. He implies that the tree is living and tries to express the living energy within a tree, and the connection between the tree and the earth. He also visually represents the cycle/process of growth and decay of the tree.
3. This artwork works well in its site because it the artwork is natural and in its natural environment, not removed from its environment and placed in another unnatural site.
4. We like the idea of the spiral shape in this artwork and the way that Goldsworthy expresses the energy of the living tree, so we may include some of those ideas in our work, however, it would be impossible to use ice.
1. Incredible Serpentine Tree Roots, by Andy Goldsworthy, (unable to find date created), (tree, sand)
2. The themes that Goldsworthy explores in this artwork seem to be growth and decay, space and movement and energy. The way that the roots are entangled around each other represents space and movement and the energy of the living tree. The title forces the viewer to think about a snake and relate that to the piece of work.
3. This sculpture works well within its site because it is all natural. The sand used has not been imported from somewhere else and therefore seems more natural and relaxed. This helps to make the idea of snakes or serpents not quite so harsh and scary, instead they seem soft and slow.
4. The idea of a serpent/snake and swirly lines is an interesting concept and therefore, we may explore this in our artwork.
2. The themes that Goldsworthy explores in this artwork seem to be growth and decay, space and movement and energy. The way that the roots are entangled around each other represents space and movement and the energy of the living tree. The title forces the viewer to think about a snake and relate that to the piece of work.
3. This sculpture works well within its site because it is all natural. The sand used has not been imported from somewhere else and therefore seems more natural and relaxed. This helps to make the idea of snakes or serpents not quite so harsh and scary, instead they seem soft and slow.
4. The idea of a serpent/snake and swirly lines is an interesting concept and therefore, we may explore this in our artwork.
1. Dandelions & Hole, by Andy Goldsworthy, (unable to find date created), (dandelions)
2. The themes explored in this artwork are space and light. Goldsworthy has emphasized the contrast between light (dandelions) and dark (the hole) and negative space. The dark and empty hole also implies a sense of mystery.
3. This scultpture works well within the site because, again, it is all natural, and it has not been removed from its natural environment. The implied mystery of the hole also causes us to think about the mystery of the environment that the artwork is placed in.
4. We like the concept of space and mystery in this artwork and may involve that in our artwork.
2. The themes explored in this artwork are space and light. Goldsworthy has emphasized the contrast between light (dandelions) and dark (the hole) and negative space. The dark and empty hole also implies a sense of mystery.
3. This scultpture works well within the site because, again, it is all natural, and it has not been removed from its natural environment. The implied mystery of the hole also causes us to think about the mystery of the environment that the artwork is placed in.
4. We like the concept of space and mystery in this artwork and may involve that in our artwork.
Step 3: Ideas/Selection
1. Produce three different design concepts that you may like to explore through your environmental sculpture.
2. Create a concept sketch for each design concept.
3. Name each of these design concepts and explain how you will go about exploring and creating these design concepts.
- Skeleton Snake
The serpentine/snake sticks, with flowers, and sticks made into holes/circles.
2. Create a concept sketch for each design concept.
3. Name each of these design concepts and explain how you will go about exploring and creating these design concepts.
- Skeleton Snake
The serpentine/snake sticks, with flowers, and sticks made into holes/circles.
- Snake made from leaves
A trail with leaves and holes with leaves (instead of sticks)
A trail with leaves and holes with leaves (instead of sticks)
- Stone Spiral
Stones placed strategically in a spiral.
Stones placed strategically in a spiral.
4. Select the concept design your group will explore in your environmental sculpture. Your final design may include design features from any of your previous design concepts.
We have chosen Deconstructed Tree.
We have chosen Deconstructed Tree.
Justify your groups’ selection of this design concept.
We decided this would be a good design concept because it is simple but meaningful. It will not require many materials, and will be easy to set up within the given time frame. We think that the artwork will also have an interesting impact on the people that walk past and it will hopefully receive interesting reactions and interactions.
We decided this would be a good design concept because it is simple but meaningful. It will not require many materials, and will be easy to set up within the given time frame. We think that the artwork will also have an interesting impact on the people that walk past and it will hopefully receive interesting reactions and interactions.
Step 4: Planning and Production
1. Photograph the site you will be working with.
2. List the tools, materials and resources you will need in order to create your sculpture.
We will need lots of sticks/twigs/logs, leaves and flowers, which we will need to collect from forests and parks, etc.
3. Explain how your sculpture explores a theme similar to that of Goldsworthy.
Our sculpture explores themes similar to Andy Goldsworthy’s, such as movement, change, energy,space and growth and decay. The design that we have chosen will resemble that of the shape of a tree. The tree will explore the concept of shape and movement because of the lines and branches that we will create using the materials. The flowers and leaves added to the tree will express a feeling of energy and livelihood of the tree. The way that the tree will change and decay as the audience walks around the artwork will be interesting.
4. Describe how your sculpture explores one or more of the six elements of Visual Arts (line, shape, form, space, value, texture).
Our artwork explore many of these elements, such as line, shape, form, space and texture. The line created by the sticks will resemble that of a tree trunk and its branches. Our form or structure of the piece will imply that the tree is alive and growing. And the contrast between using a harsh material like sticks and a soft material like flowers will provoke an interesting clash of ideas in the audience.
5. List the steps your group will follow to create the sculpture within the lesson time provided.
- Sticks/flowers/materials will be prepared on an early date.
- We will start by placing the sticks for the tree trunk and then branches.
- Then we will add flowers and leaves to the branches.
6. State how you intend to document your sculpture – during physical making stages, the finished product and the decay of your sculpture. How do you intend to present your documentation?
We will be taking photos, and perhaps videos, during the process of making the artworks, once it is completed and while the audience is reacting to it.
We will need lots of sticks/twigs/logs, leaves and flowers, which we will need to collect from forests and parks, etc.
3. Explain how your sculpture explores a theme similar to that of Goldsworthy.
Our sculpture explores themes similar to Andy Goldsworthy’s, such as movement, change, energy,space and growth and decay. The design that we have chosen will resemble that of the shape of a tree. The tree will explore the concept of shape and movement because of the lines and branches that we will create using the materials. The flowers and leaves added to the tree will express a feeling of energy and livelihood of the tree. The way that the tree will change and decay as the audience walks around the artwork will be interesting.
4. Describe how your sculpture explores one or more of the six elements of Visual Arts (line, shape, form, space, value, texture).
Our artwork explore many of these elements, such as line, shape, form, space and texture. The line created by the sticks will resemble that of a tree trunk and its branches. Our form or structure of the piece will imply that the tree is alive and growing. And the contrast between using a harsh material like sticks and a soft material like flowers will provoke an interesting clash of ideas in the audience.
5. List the steps your group will follow to create the sculpture within the lesson time provided.
- Sticks/flowers/materials will be prepared on an early date.
- We will start by placing the sticks for the tree trunk and then branches.
- Then we will add flowers and leaves to the branches.
6. State how you intend to document your sculpture – during physical making stages, the finished product and the decay of your sculpture. How do you intend to present your documentation?
We will be taking photos, and perhaps videos, during the process of making the artworks, once it is completed and while the audience is reacting to it.
Step 5: Making
During the allocated lesson, demonstrate that you are following safe work practices and can work well in a team.
Your final sculpture may change slightly during the making process to account for site changes, weather conditions etc. With this said, the link to the practice of Goldsworthy must still be evident.
Use the camera provided to document your artmaking process.
Your final sculpture may change slightly during the making process to account for site changes, weather conditions etc. With this said, the link to the practice of Goldsworthy must still be evident.
Use the camera provided to document your artmaking process.
Step 6: ICT/Documentation
The documentation of your sculpture is your only proof that the artwork ever existed.
Your group will need to present your documentation to the class in a way that is well considered and aesthetically pleasing.
You MUST use stills, however, you may also include a video element.
Your group will need to present your documentation to the class in a way that is well considered and aesthetically pleasing.
You MUST use stills, however, you may also include a video element.
Step 7: Evaluation
Each group member must complete an evaluation of your environmental sculpture.
This is to be completed individually.
Evaluation of our Environmental Sculpture
The Sculpture.
1. In our environmental sculpture we used the following materials…
- Sticks
- Flowers
- Leaves
2. We chose to use these materials because they symbolise the following ideas in the following ways…
We used these materials because there is a significant contrast between harsh sticks and soft flowers and leaves. The sticks can be seen as inanimate and not living, whereas the flowers and leaves can be seen as the complete opposite, being lively and growing. This provokes thought in the audience as they consider the growth and decay of plants and nature. It was very interesting to see how the tree looked so desolate and dead before we added the leaves and flowers to it. The leaves and flowers make a huge contribution to the overall tone/feeling of the artwork.
3. We attached these materials together using…
-
4. We chose to use the site we did because…
It was a paved site that had almost no vegetation/plants on or near it. And it was also busy and many people walked through the area.
5. This site enhanced our ideas because…
It symbolised the fact that there may have once been a living tree on the ground. But we have built over it and hence destroyed the tree. This enhances our idea of new life and death.
6. In our design we used the following elements of Visual Arts (line, shape, form, space, value, texture)…
We used line, shape, form, space and texture.
7. These elements can be seen in the following features…
The lines created by the branches, the shape/form of the tree, the space that the tree takes up and the texture contrast between harsh sticks and soft flowers and leaves.
8. Our final sculpture changed from our original design concept in the following ways…
We nearly went with the idea of doing the Stick Serpent, but we decided at the last minute to create a tree because we felt it was more meaningful.
9. What areas of the sculpture do you think work the best? Why?
I think the contrast between the sticks and the flowers works very well because it enhances the idea of death and new life.
10. If you had the opportunity to create the sculpture again, what areas of the sculpture would you attempt to improve? Why?
I would make the sculpture bigger, and more tree shaped, and perhaps add more colour/flowers.
11. How do you think you could go around improving these features?
By preparing better, having more flowers organised to place on the tree.
Documentation.
12. How do your photographs (and video) enhance the ideas you were exploring in your sculpture?
The photographs enhance these ideas because they have been taken from above, highlighting the authority and power of the audience over nature.
13. In what ways could these be improved?
Perhaps taking the photo from an even higher angle and from a further distance would improve this.
Working collaboratively.
14. What were the challenges of working in a team?
There were some clashing ideas, it was hard to come to agreements between ideas.
15. How could these be addressed (and eliminated) in the future?
We made sure we talked through them and decided on things that we both would like.
16. What were the positives of working in a team?
There was diversity, meaning more opinions and more ideas.
17. What strategies did you find helped promote positive working relationships and productivity when working collaboratively?
I found listening to other members and contributing to the work load helped.
18. How would you approach a collaborative task in the future?
I would be happy to complete another collaborative task in the future and I would approach it with confidence.
This is to be completed individually.
Evaluation of our Environmental Sculpture
The Sculpture.
1. In our environmental sculpture we used the following materials…
- Sticks
- Flowers
- Leaves
2. We chose to use these materials because they symbolise the following ideas in the following ways…
We used these materials because there is a significant contrast between harsh sticks and soft flowers and leaves. The sticks can be seen as inanimate and not living, whereas the flowers and leaves can be seen as the complete opposite, being lively and growing. This provokes thought in the audience as they consider the growth and decay of plants and nature. It was very interesting to see how the tree looked so desolate and dead before we added the leaves and flowers to it. The leaves and flowers make a huge contribution to the overall tone/feeling of the artwork.
3. We attached these materials together using…
-
4. We chose to use the site we did because…
It was a paved site that had almost no vegetation/plants on or near it. And it was also busy and many people walked through the area.
5. This site enhanced our ideas because…
It symbolised the fact that there may have once been a living tree on the ground. But we have built over it and hence destroyed the tree. This enhances our idea of new life and death.
6. In our design we used the following elements of Visual Arts (line, shape, form, space, value, texture)…
We used line, shape, form, space and texture.
7. These elements can be seen in the following features…
The lines created by the branches, the shape/form of the tree, the space that the tree takes up and the texture contrast between harsh sticks and soft flowers and leaves.
8. Our final sculpture changed from our original design concept in the following ways…
We nearly went with the idea of doing the Stick Serpent, but we decided at the last minute to create a tree because we felt it was more meaningful.
9. What areas of the sculpture do you think work the best? Why?
I think the contrast between the sticks and the flowers works very well because it enhances the idea of death and new life.
10. If you had the opportunity to create the sculpture again, what areas of the sculpture would you attempt to improve? Why?
I would make the sculpture bigger, and more tree shaped, and perhaps add more colour/flowers.
11. How do you think you could go around improving these features?
By preparing better, having more flowers organised to place on the tree.
Documentation.
12. How do your photographs (and video) enhance the ideas you were exploring in your sculpture?
The photographs enhance these ideas because they have been taken from above, highlighting the authority and power of the audience over nature.
13. In what ways could these be improved?
Perhaps taking the photo from an even higher angle and from a further distance would improve this.
Working collaboratively.
14. What were the challenges of working in a team?
There were some clashing ideas, it was hard to come to agreements between ideas.
15. How could these be addressed (and eliminated) in the future?
We made sure we talked through them and decided on things that we both would like.
16. What were the positives of working in a team?
There was diversity, meaning more opinions and more ideas.
17. What strategies did you find helped promote positive working relationships and productivity when working collaboratively?
I found listening to other members and contributing to the work load helped.
18. How would you approach a collaborative task in the future?
I would be happy to complete another collaborative task in the future and I would approach it with confidence.