Paper Stacking Assignment Guidelines

Assignment:

• Read the sections I highlighted in the chapter Touch from the book A Natural History of the Senses by Diane Ackerman.  A hard copy was handed out at the beginning of the semester.  Post your response to the reading on your blog.
• Create two stacked paper forms.  The first is observed from life.  The second is your own design.

Objective:
Observation through sight and touch as well as invention and development of individual idea. Introduce concepts of mass and volume.  Continue to explore proportion and develop observation skills.

Diane Ackerman's lusciously written grand tour of the realm of the senses includes conversations with an iceberg in Antarctica and a professional nose in New York, along with dissertations on kisses and tattoos, sadistic cuisine and the music played by the planet Earth. " Delightful . . . gives the reader the richest possible feeling of the worlds the senses take in." --The New York Times. 

Sculpture #1 - Observe From Life

• Use your eyes and your hands to understand shape and line. Your subject is a fruit or vegetable.  I suggest purchasing a couple of pieces of produce. In case your first idea does not work, you have back up.
• Keep the size of your paper sculpture the same as the actual produce.  
• I showed some examples in class that were sanded (using the woodshop sander). Sanding the paper stacks is not required. If you wish to sand your sculpture, you must contact Russell Maycumber, woodshop manager. Russell will train you on the equipment. You can e-mail Russell or stop by the woodshop located inside Studio 3. Russell's hours are posted on the outside of the woodshop doors.
• Suggestions - green peppers, horned melon, squash, star fruit, pear, apple, banana, lemon, celery, large mushroom.
• No blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, grapes, radish or a small mushroom.

Sculpture #2 - Your Own Design

• Using the same materials and the process of paper stacking as for the fruit/vegetable, design your own paper stack sculpture.
• Prepare your design by doing research on-line.  You must have a sources that you derive your idea from.  Sources can be visual, literature, history or music based.  At least five sources are needed.  Post your visual research on your class blog.
• Stay away from cliches and conventional symbols.
• The size of your own design should be about the size of your hand.
• Push for an innovative design.  Consider how interior and exterior work together.  Not all pieces of the sculpture have to attach - could you have parts that are able to detach?  Consider the use of "stilts" to life sculpture off of table, creating a space between sculpture and table. Pull from all previous projects to fuel your ideas about construction.
• Incorporate color into your own design.  While the first sculpture, of the fruit/veg, will focus only on proportions, the second sculpture will be innovative and include color.  The paper responds well to ink (or diluted paint).  Gold/silver/red leaf or metallic paints can also be interesting.  Crushed pastels, rubbed into stacked paper is another option.
• Do not use any other paper besides the assigned paper.  If your idea calls for the inclusion of other papers (newspaper, magazines, colored paper), see me and we will discuss.  Sometimes a compromise is possible.

Materials:

• Estimate about four to six sheets of Rives gray paper
• Wood glue 
• Scissors
• Exacto 
• A vegetable or fruit for observation purposes (plastic is acceptable)
• Clamps can also be helpful when trying to get glue to set - some are available in the Wood Shop
• NOTE: Do not use any other paper besides the paper I assigned. The paper I assigned is extremely thick and works well with stacking.  If you did not purchase the paper I assigned, or you run out, you can easily find comparable paper at Hobby Lobby or Michaels.  Just take a swatch of paper with you and find a similar manufacturer.

What to put on your blog:

1. Written response to the reading Touch, A Natural History of the Senses by Diane Ackerman. Note - Fall 14 students did not do reading. 
2. Process pictures.
3. At least three (3) professional images of each final solution (make sure to include detail shots). Total of six (6) images. 
4. A written statement for the fruit/veg and another statement for the invented design.  Obviously the statement for the fruit/veg will be brief as the assignment is direct.  However, you can mention what obstacles you had to overcome.  A statement for the invented stacked paper will be reflective as you discuss your idea.
5. At least three (3) inspiration images for your invented design. 
6. Optional - any notes or sketches.