Assignment:
- Using only white copy paper, no tape or glue, design and construct a collection of paper sculptures that visually narrate your perception of the short story The Metamorphosis.
- Perception is a way of regarding, understanding, or interpreting something; a mental impression
- All sculptures must have height, width and depth. Do not construct flat pieces that only have a front and back. Must have depth.
Objective:
- Provide students with the experience of extracting design elements and principles such as line, color, texture, shape, scale, space, pattern, focal point, balance and repetition from the written word.
- Challenge students to analyze the content and meaning of a story, translating their perceptions to an artwork of their own that visually communicates content and meaning.
- Challenge construction skills through the use of minimal materials and the process of transformed plane.
Materials:
- White copy paper. Do not use card stock.
- Winsor and Newton eight color ink set
- Winsor and Newton white ink
- Scissors
- Cut matt
- Exacto knife
- Brushes
- Optional - colored pencils, black or colored ink pens, graphite pencils
Student Examples (Completed Work).
Link below.
Student Examples (In-Process).
Link below.
Inspiration Artists. Link below.
Guidelines:
- Miniature Paper Sculptures
- The sculptures will visually communicate your perception of the setting presented in The Metamorphosis.
- You have freedom how to interpret each sculpture.
- For example, you do not have to produce a traditional bed or piece of furniture.
- Constructing the Paper Sculptures
- Use white copy paper. Do not use card stock.
- Do not use tape, glue or any other form of adhesive.
- You may use water to deconstruct paper and activate glue embedded in paper.
- Option to make paper pulp and "form" wet pulp into shapes. Do not add glue. Rely on the glue in the paper that activates when made into pulp.
- Do not use origami.
- The sculptures must be sturdy and stable.
- Color
- Use ink for color. Do not use paint.
- Option to include minimal use of colored pencils, tech pens/sharpies.
- White Ink
- If white is part of your design, must ink the white copy paper with white ink to reflect light for dimension. Consider slightly tinting the white ink.
- Size
- The largest size is a sheet of copy of paper, 8.5" x 11".
- The bed should be no smaller than half a sheet of copy paper. 4.25" x 5.5".
- All forms are to be three-dimensional - have height, width and depth. Exception for the blanket.
- Example, a mattress has six sides (planes).
- Below is a list of the sculptures. Total 8 sculptures.
- Gregor.
- You choose how to represent the character Gregor.
- Do not represent in the form of a bug.
- A piece of furniture.
- Your choice.
- A bed (six components)
- Must contain the following:
- Mattress
- Box Spring
- Bed Frame
- Headboard.
- Be careful here - do not use one sheet of paper to make a headboard. Make a shape with height, width and depth or use multiple shapes.
- At least one pillow
- At least one blanket
- All six components do not have to attach.
- You can choose to replace an item below with an additional piece of furniture or a wall.
Step 1:
Homework
- Print out the short story The Metamorphosis.
- Read and make notes in the margins. Bring printed copy with notes and answers to below questions to class.
- Answer the questions below.
- How do you perceive the story?
- Perception is a way of regarding, understanding, or interpreting something; a mental impression.
- What do you think is the meaning of the story?
- What descriptions/ideas/meaning resonates with you?
- How do you visualize the story?
- What colors, shapes, textures, patterns, use of space, implied lines, scale do you associate with the story?
- Go to link below to see examples of elements and principles: http://foundations3ddesign.blogspot.com/search/label/Elements%20and%20Principles%20Visual%20Examples
Step 2:
- Bring your printed copy of the story and notes to class for discussion.
- Be prepared to take further notes as we will discuss the reading and ideas for the visual work.
- Be prepared to verbally share your answers to the above questions.
Step 3:
- Begin constructing your ideas, working toward a final solution. Sketches are optional.
- Keep in mind, this construction process is new to you so your first attempts may be learning experiences and not suitable for a final solution. This is okay, don't get frustrated. Learn from results, keep moving forward.
- Refer to the above "Guidelines" section to make sure you are constructing the items required.
- Remember to take in-process pics as you are working.
Franz Kafka
1883 - 1924, Austria
The Metamorphosis, first published in 1915. As with all of Kafka's works, The Metamorphosis is open to a wide range of interpretations. Most obvious are themes relating to society's treatment of those who are different, the loneliness of isolation, and the absurdity of the human condition.
Evaluation Criteria:
- Refer to the document in File Section in Canvas entitled "Evaluation Criteria". The document has the evaluation criteria for all assignments.
What do I post on my blog?
- Refer to document in File Section in Canvas entitled "Blog Guidelines and Checklist".
- The document includes guidelines and checklist and due dates.
- Late work not accepted for blog posts.
